Determination of metals and metal fluxes in algae and fungi

Methods available for the determination of metals and metal fluxes in algae and fungi in routine use in our laboratory include atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), the use of radioisotope tracers, polarography and ion specific electrodes. The choice of method depends on the particular problem under investigation and is governed by sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for the metal or metal species in question, the concentration range, requirements of sampling and sample preparation and whether there is a need to distinguish cellular elemental location. The application of these analytical techniques to determine capacities and kinetics of metal and radionuclide uptake, intracellular metal distribution, K+ effuux and the biosorption of organotin compounds in cyanobacteria, microalgae and fungi, including yeasts, is described in this paper, with due reference to the experimental contexts most appropriate for a given technique.