Effect of Cd on accumulation and loss of 210 Po in the mussel Mytilus edulis

Abstract

As a result of 210Po's previously identified association with sulphur-rich proteins, metallothioneins could have a significant effect on the behaviour and fate of 210Po in molluscs. Starved control and cadmium-exposed mussels, Mytilus edulis, were fed 210Po-labelled algae (Isochrysis galbana) for 5 d and then allowed to depurate in clean sea water. Cadmium-exposed M. edulis accumulated less 210Po in the digestive gland and the remainder of the tissue than control mussels, although this was due to a decrease in tissue weight. More than 40% of 210Po was identified as being associated with high molecular weight and heat-treated cytosol proteins in M. edulis. Mussels in a starved state are known to recycle as much as 90% of their amino acids. It is proposed that 210Po associated with these and other proteins is recycled, explaining why no significant loss of 210Po was observed from the remainder of the tissue in either control or Cd-exposed mussels. Cadmium-induced metallothioneins had no effect on the distribution of 210Po in M. edulis; <5% associated with the cytosolic fraction was considered to principally contain metallothioneins. It is suggested that 210Po's apparent relationship with metallothioneins is coincidental rather than connected with its role in the regulation of metals.