Co-transport of metal complexes by the green mussel Perna viridis

We examined the uptake of ligand-bound metals (Cd and Zn) by the green mussel Perna viridis using defined artificial seawater. Different free ion concentrations (1 pM to 10 microM) in uptake solutions were created by adding different amounts of total metals (Cd 0.1 nM to 0.1 mM; Zn 0.5 nM to 0.05 mM) and ligands (EDTA, NTA, citric acid). Our results showed that Cd and Zn uptake could not be fully explained by the free Cd and Zn concentrations in the presence of different ligands, indicating that metal-ligand complexes were at least partially available for uptake by the mussels. Total Zn concentrations appeared to be a better predictor of metal uptake than the free Zn ion concentrations in the presence of different ligands. Uptake of lipophilic organic metal complexes was substantially greater than the hydrophilic metal complexes, even though the free ion concentration was comparable or lower. Moreover, the radiolabeled ligand compounds were directly accumulated by the mussels. The accumulation of metal complexes may explain the increased metal uptake with increasing ligand and total metal concentration, even though the free ion metal concentration was constant. Overall, our experimental results indicated that free metal ion cannot fully explain metal uptake since metal complex species were also available to the mussels to some extent, apparently through a co-transport process.