Uptake pathways and subcellular fractionation of Cd in the polychaete Nereis diversicolor

Polychaetes have often been utilized as indicator species to investigate the impacts of pollutants, such as heavy metals. The uptake of Cd by the polychaete Nereis diversicolor was determined at varying Ca concentrations and with pre-exposure to Ca ion channel blockers and metabolic inhibitors in simulated sea water over 1 week period. The supply of Ca in simulated sea water inhibited Cd uptake and increased Ca concentration in N. diversicolor after 10 μM Cd exposure. Pre-exposure to a Ca-channel blocker (Lanthanum) significantly inhibited Cd uptake, suggesting that the uptake of Cd was exerted at a Ca channel. N-ethylmaleimide, which specifically binds to sulfhydryl groups, inhibited Cd uptake at 10 μM, implying that the transport of Cd is carrier-mediated by proteins or other SH-containing compounds. Subcellular Cd distribution analysis showed that more than 60% of the total Cd associated with the cytosolic fraction. The presence of higher concentration of Ca in simulated sea water did not impact the proportional subcellular distribution of Cd in N. diversicolor. Nevertheless, the supply of Ca could significantly lower Cd concentration in cytosol and cellular debris. The present study provides evidence that Cd transport by N. diversicolor was mediated mainly through lanthanum- sensitive Ca ion channels and accumulated by SH-containing compounds. These results help to understand the uptake mechanism and subcellular distribution of Cd in polychaetes.