Cadmium induced phytochelatins in marine alga Phaeodactylum tricornutum: Effect of metal speciation

Abstract

The production of phytochelatins (PCs) in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum in response to cadmium has been studied as a function of the exposure time, concentration and chemical speciation. The results agree with the role of PCs in the detoxification and homeostasis of Cd in this alga. The chemical speciation of the metal was found to influence the synthesis of PCs. The use of Cd ion buffer solutions shows that the induction of PCs is controlled by the free ion rather than by the total or chelated Cd in solution. © 1995 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.