Metallothionein concentration in sponges (Spongia officinalis) as a biomarker of metal contamination

The synthesis of metallothioneins (MTs) is often induced when organisms are exposed to heavy metals in the field. They are among the major “specific” biomarkers identified to date. With a view to include MTs in biomonitoring programs, the organisms most commonly studied are bivalves. Sponges present most of the characteristics researched in bioindicators of pollution and consequently have been proposed to constitute a “Sponge Watch Program”. The detection of large quantities of metals in sponges suggests the existence of detoxification systems and indeed, the presence of metallothionein-like proteins (MTLPs) has been reported in two different species of sponges. In Spongia officinalis, the present study has demonstrated the presence of compounds exhibiting most of the characteristics of MTs: cytosolic, heat-stable, with apparent molecular mass of 4 to 15 kDa and binding (at least) Ag, Cu and Zn. Specimens have been collected along the French Mediterranean coast from three sites differing by their degree of contamination. Relationships between MTLP and metal concentrations have been established. For copper, mercury and zinc, the correlations were significantly positive.