Research project MS/A1/01 (Research action MS)
Some metals are essential for the proper functioning of biological systems.
These metals are required in only extremely low concentrations, and the limit between what is necessary and what is toxic is often very thin. Some marine organisms possess regulating mechanisms to control the absorption and elimination of specific essential metals.
This study is designed to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of the absorption, accumulation and elimination of several metals (Cd, Hg and Zn) in invertebrates from the marine environment, especially in the common shrimp, Crangon crangon.
Attention will be devoted to three aspects in particular :
(1) the impact of the chemical speciation of the metal and other environmental factors on their absorption by living organisms;
(2) the transport of metals from the exchange surfaces to the various tissues of the organisms (role of metallothioneines and other metal-binding proteins);
(3) kinetics of the accumulation and elimination of metals in organisms in relation to the intra- and extra-cellular complexation of metals.
