Uranium and Neptunium binding mechanisms in Mytilus Gallloprovinciallis : in vitro speciation

This study investigates the bioinorganic mechanisms of bivalve mussels exposed to radionuclides, specifically natural uranium (natU) and neptunium-237 (²³⁷Np), a surrogate for plutonium-239. As bioindicators of marine contamination, mussels help monitor the transfer and accumulation of these elements in ocean ecosystems. To understand bioaccumulation at the molecular scale, we focus on the interaction of U and Np with key mussel biomolecules, particularly metallothioneins (MTs) in the digestive gland and mussel foot proteins (mfps) in the byssus. By characterizing their binding mechanisms, this research aims to clarify their role in radionuclide sequestration and detoxification, offering insights into actinide behavior in biological systems.