Effects of mercury and lead on tissue glutathione of the green mussel, Perna viridis L.
- National Univ. of Singapore (Singapore)
Glutathione (GSH) is the major non-protein thiol in animals, and involved in a number of important physiological and detoxification processes. It has been suggested that this tripeptide protects thiol groups in proteins from oxidation, functions as an intracellular redox buffer and serves as a reservoir of cysteine. Tissue GSH is also known to be involved in the metabolism and detoxification of endogenous and exogenous substances, including the binding of inorganic mercury ions. Therefore, a change in the amount of GSH in tissues may be considered to reflect the effects of deposited mercury on tissue function. The functions of the tripeptide have been studied less thoroughly in invertebrates than in vertebrates. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were changes in the amounts of tissue GSH in the green mussel, Perna viridis, at various time intervals after metal exposure. 22 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.
- OSTI ID:
- 530900
- Journal Information:
- Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Vol. 58, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: May 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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