M. Becher et W. Hofner, DEMONSTRATION OF A CD-COMPLEXING COMPOUND IN SCENEDESMUS-SUBSPICATUS AND ZEA-MAYS L SIMILAR TO PHYTOCHELATINS, Zeitschrift fur Pflanzenernahrung und Bodenkunde, 157(2), 1994, pp. 87-92
Cells of the unicellular green algar Scenedesmus subspicatus which wer
e cultivated in a Cd-treated nutrient solution under controlled condit
ions for 24 h, produced a cytoplasmatic Cd-complexing compound with a
molecular weight of 6,100 D. The Cd-compound was found to contain Cd-m
ercaptid bondings and high levels of Cd and sulfhydryl groups. On the
basis of the amino acid composition (43% glutainine acid, 36% cysteine
, 11% glycine) and the reduction of synthesis by buthionine sulfoximin
e, the Cd-compound was categorized as a phytochelatin. Maize grown in
a Cd-containing nutrient solution reacted similarly by producing a Cd-
complexing compound in roots. Synthesis of this compound was inhibited
by buthionine sulfoximine completely. Therefore the Cd-compound found
in the maize cells was considered to be a phytochelatin as well.