Metal Accumulation Mechanisms in Ascidians and its Application to Selective Accumulation of Rare Metals in Seawater

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  • MICHIBATA Hitoshi
    Molecular Physiological Laboratory, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University
  • UEKI Tatsuya
    Molecular Physiological Laboratory, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University

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  • ホヤの金属濃縮機構と海水中のレアメタルの選択的分取への応用
  • ホヤ ノ キンゾク ノウシュク キコウ ト カイスイチュウ ノ レアメタル ノ センタクテキ ブンシュ エ ノ オウヨウ

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Abstract

Rare metals such as vanadium and cobalt are dissolved in seawater at very low concentrations. Ascidians are known to accumulate extremely high levels of vanadium selectively. Vanadium is accumulated mainly in one type of their blood cells, and the concentration reaches 350 mM corresponding to107times that in seawater. Recently, we isolated vanadium-binding proteins, Vanabinl-5, from an vanadium-rich ascidian, Ascidia sydneiensis samea. Biochemical and structural analyses revealed that Vanabins make a novel protein family which is characterized by 18 conserved cysteine motif. They are thought to act as metal chaperones in ascidian blood cells. Vanabins can be used as an agent for selective bioaccumulation and biosorption of heavy metals.

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