The role of vacuolar digestive system in preventing cadmium poisoning in Acanthamoeba castellanii
Przełecka, A.; Kluska, A.M.; Zwierzyk, M.
Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 31(2): 93-98
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0239-8508 PMID: 8405575 Document Number: 415620
Constituents showing cadmium affinity were found in digestive residues of the vacuolar digestive system in Acanthamoeba. Cadmium was detected by means of X-ray analysis in complexes appearing both in residues included within the digestive vacuoles and in those egested outside the cell. The digestive vacuolar system in Acanthamoeba castellanii is characterized by a particularly high turnover rate (4). Confronted with this fact, results of the present study suggest that the system is able to egest rapidly the ligand-bound cadmium. In this way it protects the amoeba against serious toxic effects of the Cd-polluted environment.