The major function of a metallothionein from the aquatic fungus Heliscus lugdunensis is cadmium detoxification

The aquatic fungus Heliscus lugdunensis, occurring in a spring highly contaminated with heavy metal ions, expresses a metallothionein that is exclusively induced by Cd2 + ions, which is unprecedented so far. Spectroscopic analyses reveal different coordination modes for Zn2 + and Cd2 + at a physiologically relevant concentration range.