Biochemical characterization of a copper-thionein involved in Cu accumulation in the lysosomes of the digestive gland of mussels exposed to the metal

The Cu-rich protein present in an insoluble form in the digestive gland lysosomes of mussels ( Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam.) exposed to sublethal concentrations of copper has been extracted and characterized. When solubilized, the Cu-protein has chromatographic and electrophoretic behaviour and a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine environmental research 1988-01, Vol.24 (1), p.163-166
Main Authors: Viarengo, A., Canesi, L., Pertica, M., Mancinelli, G., Orunesu, M., Mazzucotelli, A., Bouquegneau, J.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Marine
Marine and brackish environment
Mytilus galloprovincialis
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Summary:The Cu-rich protein present in an insoluble form in the digestive gland lysosomes of mussels ( Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam.) exposed to sublethal concentrations of copper has been extracted and characterized. When solubilized, the Cu-protein has chromatographic and electrophoretic behaviour and a UV spectrum typical of cytosolic metallothioneins ofmussels. The amino acid composition is also similar to the cytosolic metallothioneins, from which it differs, for an unusually low glycine content and for a high level of aspartic and glutamic acid. Therefore, in mussel digestive gland metallothioneins and lysosomes may play an interrelated key role in copper homeostasis.
ISSN:0141-1136
1879-0291
DOI:10.1016/0141-1136(88)90286-3