INFLUENCE OF CD, CU, NI AND ZN ON THE SYNTHESIS OF METALLOPROTEINS BY SCENEDESMUS-SUBSPICATUS

In short term experiments under controlled growth conditions the effect of increasing Cd-, Cu-, Ni-, and Zn-concentrations in the nutrient solution of the amount of biomass, the accumulation of heavy metals and the synthesis of metalloproteins by the unicellular greenalga Scenedesmus subspicatus was studied. Among the 4 elements Cd was taken up at the highest rate. Cu revealed to be the most toxic element according to the biomass production. In the Cd trials a protein fraction could be established, which was not detected in the control and in the Cu-, Ni-, and Zn-trials. The further characterization of the isolated fraction indicates the existence of a Cd-metallothionein in the algae.