IMIS - Marine Research Groups | Compendium Coast and Sea

IMIS - Marine Research Groups

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Purification and biochemical characterization of a cadmium metallothionein from the digestive gland of the Antarctic scallop Adamussium colbecki (Smith, 1902)
Ponzano, E.; Dondero, F.; Bouquegneau, J.-M.; Sack, R.; Hunziker, P.; Viarengo, A. (2001). Purification and biochemical characterization of a cadmium metallothionein from the digestive gland of the Antarctic scallop Adamussium colbecki (Smith, 1902). Polar Biol. 24(3): 147-153. https://hdl.handle.net/10.1007/s003000000186
In: Polar Biology. Springer-Verlag: Berlin; Heidelberg. ISSN 0722-4060; e-ISSN 1432-2056, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Ponzano, E.
  • Dondero, F.
  • Bouquegneau, J.-M., more
  • Sack, R.
  • Hunziker, P.
  • Viarengo, A.

Abstract
    A cadmium-binding protein was purified from the digestive gland of the Antarctic scallop, Adamussium colbeck, and biochemically characterized. Purification procedures included gel permeation and anion exchange chromatography, followed by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Our results demonstrate that the A. colbecki cadmium-binding protein has the general properties of metallothioneins: low molecular weight of about 10 kDa, spectroscopic features typical of cadmium thiolate clusters and high metal (cadmium) content. Analysis of amino acid composition reveals the absence of aromatic amino acids, histidine, methionine and arginine. Asparagine and glutamine are also absent. The A. colbecki metallothionein shows high levels of glycine (14%), aspartic acid (14%), glutamic acid (11%) and a low lysine content (4%); the A. colbecki metallothionein shows a lower cysteine content (12%) compared to other metallothioneins (17-30%) purified from both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. The presence of a metallothionein in the digestive gland of A. colbecki suggests that in cold-ocean-adapted molluscs the heavy metal homeostasis mechanisms may have evolved similarly to those of organisms living in temperate marine environments, although the A. colbecki cadmium-binding protein shows a typical amino acidic composition that might reflect a peculiar physiological role.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors