Export of cadmium and phytochelatin by the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii

Jennifer G. Lee, Beth A. Ahner, Francois M. M. Morel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

118 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cadmium is one of the most toxic trace metals and induces high concentrations of the metal-binding polypeptide phytochelatin, (γ-Glu- Cys)(n)Gly where n ≥ 2, in the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii. Here we show that at high inorganic cadmium concentrations there is an efflux of cadmium from T. weissflogii so large that over half the cadmium taken up by the cell is returned to the medium. At high inorganic cadmium, there is also an efflux of phytochelatin from the cell. The efflux of both cadmium and phytochelatin stops when the external inorganic cadmium concentration is reduced. The efflux of phytochelatin and cadmium occurs at a molar ratio of approximately 4 γ-Glu-Cys subunits per cadmium, a stoichiometry similar to that measured in vivo for the cadmium-phytochelatin complex. We hypothesize that T. weissflogii exports the phytochelatin-cadmium complex as a detoxification mechanism. The cadmium-phytochelatin complex does not appear to be very stable in seawater once outside the cell since the cadmium exported is available to T. weissflogii and induces phytochelatin synthesis. Cadmium-phytochelatin export may be an important adaptive strategy that allows phytoplankton to survive in metal-polluted waters.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1814-1821
Number of pages8
JournalEnvironmental Science and Technology
Volume30
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • Environmental Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Export of cadmium and phytochelatin by the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this