Identification of a Low Molecular Weight 65 Zn Complex in Rat Intestine 1

Summary

A low-molecular-weight ⁶⁵Zn complex was identified in the intestinal lumen and mucosa following oral administration of ⁶⁵Zn to rats. Analysis of the ⁶⁵Zn complex by thin layer chromatography indicates that the complex possesses properties markedly different from those of zinc salts and simple zinc-amino acid complexes. These experiments demonstrate that zinc is bound to a low-molecular-weight ligand as well as a variety of macromolecules in the intestine of the rat.