title: Free cupric ion activity in seawater: effects on metallothionein and growth in crab larvae.
abstract: Crab zoeae (Rhithropanopeus harrisii) were exposed during their development opment to a range of free cupric ion activities regulated in seawater by use of a copper chelate buffer system. Most cytosolic copper was found to be associated with metallothionein. Copper-thionein could be related to free cupric ion activity, and a shift in copper-thionein accumulation was correlated with inhibition of larval growth. These data reveal predictable relations between cupric ion activity in seawater and processes at the cellular and organismic levels.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Sunda
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Costlow