Ligands binding cadmium, zinc, and copper in a species of New Zealand oyster (Ostrea lutaria)
Analysis of Cd, Zn and Cu in the New Zealand oyster, Ostrea lutaria, showed that on an average it contained 5.8 ..mu..g Cd, 67 ..mu..g Zn and 14.1 ..mu..g Cu per g wet weight. Within the oyster tissue, the amount of Cd was equally distributed between the particulate and soluable (cytosol) fractions. The distribution of Zn and Cu was different, about 70% and 80% respectively being present in the cytosol. Separation of the Cd-binding ligands in the oyster cytosol on Sephadex G-75 column showed that about 60% of the cytosolic Cd was bound to high molecular weight (HMW) proteins eluted near the void volume. Similarly about 40% of Zn and Cu was also present in the HMW proteins.A significant proportion (32%) of the cytosolic Cd was present in low molecular weight (LMW) protein fractions. The protein was estimated to have a molecular weight in the range 6000 to 12,000 daltons and the protein fraction was defined as the metallothionein fraction. Only a very small amount (<1%) of Zn was associated with the MT fraction to the high concentration of Cu (2.23 ..mu..g Cu/g wet tissue). The LMW fraction of the oyster tissue cytosol had less than 1% of cytosolic Cd, but it contained a large proportion of Zn (about 60%) and Cu (about 32%).
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- OSTI ID:
- 5402747
- Journal Information:
- Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Vol. 30:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CADMIUM
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
COPPER
OYSTERS
CONTAMINATION
ZINC
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
COMPLEXES
LIGANDS
METALLOTHIONEIN
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
INVERTEBRATES
METALLOPROTEINS
METALS
MOLLUSCS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
SPECTROSCOPY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
560304* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Invertebrates- (-1987)