Isolation and characterization of metallothioneins from cadmium-loaded mussel Mytilus edulis

Abstract 1. Cadmium-binding proteins have been isolated from mussels kept in Cd 2 rich seawater. 2. Based upon their elution behavior in two chromatographic systems, Cd 2 /SH ratio of about 3, paucity of both aromatic amino acids and absorbance at 280 nm, abundance of cysteinyl residues (>25%) and low molecular weight (