The 3D-solution structure ofNeurospora crassaCu6 -metal-lothionein (NcMT) polypeptide backbone was determined using homonuclear, multidimensional 1 H-NMR spectros-copy. It represents a new metallothionein (MT) fold with a protein chain where the N-terminal half is left-handed and the C-terminal half right-handedly folded around a cop-per(I)-sulfur cluster. As seen with other MTs, the protein lacks definable secondary structural elements; however, the polypeptide fold is unique.
