Naturally-occurring heavy metal binding protein in invertebrates.

Low molecular weight cadmium, copper, and zinc binding protein has been isolated from the mussel Mytilus edulis in the cadmium polluted areas of Corio Bay adjacent to Melbourne. Its molecular weight and other properties suggest that it belongs to the metallothionein family of metal binding proteins. Its synthesis may have been induced in the cyctoplasmic solutions of the cells as a regulatory mechanism to avoid intoxication by excess uptake of any of the metals.