Abstract
The objective of this study was to develop a tool to assess the bioavailability of Cd in freshwaters. An analytical method was developed to measure the induction of phytochelatins (PC) by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii using online HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. PC determinations were validated and detection limits were determined. It was shown that the presence of dithiothreitol (DTT) was necessary in order to maintain the PC in their reduced form. Sample purification was shown to be extremely important. The stability of PC was evaluated for several temperature storages (−20°C, 1°C and room temperature): PC degraded with time under all examined temperatures, including freezing.
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the NSERC MITHE Research Network. A complete list of MITHE sponsors is available at www.mithe-morg. Technical assistance from Alexandra Furtus Karine Venne, Marie-Claude Denis and Marie-Christine Tang is greatly appreciated. Comments from a knowledgeable reviewer are also greatly appreciated.