Preliminary studies on interactions between metalothionein cadmium, metalothionein zinc and inorganic cadmium and zinc compounds

Abstract

Metalothionein complexes divalent metals such as cadmium and thereby assists in removing Cd²⁺ from the bloodstream. It has been stated that excess Zn²⁺ in the blood stream will displace Cd²⁺ from the Cd metalothionein complex and release Cd²⁺ back into the bloodstream. This was an in vitro study to study this reaction.

A metal speciation technique was utilized with a newly developed analytical thermospray nebulizer(TSP) interfaced “high‐speed high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)” with flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). The in vitro synthesis of human biological conditions in the experimental procedures allowed the mole ratio at which the replacement reaction being initiated to be determined as 1:100:1,000 mol ratio of zinc:cadmium:metalothionein. This corresponded to actual concentration ratios of 0.015:1.0:40.0 ppm, respectively.

Notes

Author for Correspondence