Algae sequester heavy metals via synthesis of phytochelatin complexes

Walter Gekeler; Erwin Grill; Ernst Ludwig Winnacker; Meinhart H. Zenk

doi:10.1007/BF00425162

Algae sequester heavy metals via synthesis of phytochelatin complexes

Walter Gekeler, Erwin Grill, Ernst Ludwig Winnacker, Meinhart H. Zenk

University of Munich

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

317 Scopus citations

Abstract

A Cd-binding complex was isolated from Chlorella fusca and has been shown to be composed of phytochelating peptides, (γ-Glu-Cys)_n-Gly, n=2-5. Members of six of the ten classes of Phycophyta revealed phytochelatin synthesis after exposure to cadmium ions. Phytochelatin was also induced by ions of lead, zinc, silver, copper and mercury. These experiments uneqiovocally demonstrated that algae sequester heavy metals by an identical mechanism as higher plants, namely via complexation to phytochelatins.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	197-202
Number of pages	6
Journal	Archives of Microbiology
Volume	150
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425162
State	Published - Jun 1988
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Algae
Chlorella fusca
Glutathione
Heavy metal
Inducible Cd-binding complex
Metallothionein
Phytochelatin
Sulfide

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10.1007/BF00425162

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title = "Algae sequester heavy metals via synthesis of phytochelatin complexes",

abstract = "A Cd-binding complex was isolated from Chlorella fusca and has been shown to be composed of phytochelating peptides, (γ-Glu-Cys)n-Gly, n=2-5. Members of six of the ten classes of Phycophyta revealed phytochelatin synthesis after exposure to cadmium ions. Phytochelatin was also induced by ions of lead, zinc, silver, copper and mercury. These experiments uneqiovocally demonstrated that algae sequester heavy metals by an identical mechanism as higher plants, namely via complexation to phytochelatins.",

keywords = "Algae, Chlorella fusca, Glutathione, Heavy metal, Inducible Cd-binding complex, Metallothionein, Phytochelatin, Sulfide",

author = "Walter Gekeler and Erwin Grill and Winnacker, {Ernst Ludwig} and Zenk, {Meinhart H.}",

year = "1988",

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doi = "10.1007/BF00425162",

language = "English",

volume = "150",

pages = "197--202",

journal = "Archives of Microbiology",

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T1 - Algae sequester heavy metals via synthesis of phytochelatin complexes

AU - Gekeler, Walter

AU - Grill, Erwin

AU - Winnacker, Ernst Ludwig

AU - Zenk, Meinhart H.

PY - 1988/6

Y1 - 1988/6

N2 - A Cd-binding complex was isolated from Chlorella fusca and has been shown to be composed of phytochelating peptides, (γ-Glu-Cys)n-Gly, n=2-5. Members of six of the ten classes of Phycophyta revealed phytochelatin synthesis after exposure to cadmium ions. Phytochelatin was also induced by ions of lead, zinc, silver, copper and mercury. These experiments uneqiovocally demonstrated that algae sequester heavy metals by an identical mechanism as higher plants, namely via complexation to phytochelatins.

AB - A Cd-binding complex was isolated from Chlorella fusca and has been shown to be composed of phytochelating peptides, (γ-Glu-Cys)n-Gly, n=2-5. Members of six of the ten classes of Phycophyta revealed phytochelatin synthesis after exposure to cadmium ions. Phytochelatin was also induced by ions of lead, zinc, silver, copper and mercury. These experiments uneqiovocally demonstrated that algae sequester heavy metals by an identical mechanism as higher plants, namely via complexation to phytochelatins.

KW - Algae

KW - Chlorella fusca

KW - Glutathione

KW - Heavy metal

KW - Inducible Cd-binding complex

KW - Metallothionein

KW - Phytochelatin

KW - Sulfide

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DO - 10.1007/BF00425162

M3 - Article

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SN - 0302-8933

VL - 150

SP - 197

EP - 202

JO - Archives of Microbiology

JF - Archives of Microbiology

IS - 2

ER -

Algae sequester heavy metals via synthesis of phytochelatin complexes

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Keywords

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