title: Plutonium uptake and distribution in mammalian cells: molecular vs. polymeric plutonium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the cellular responses to molecular and polymeric forms of plutonium using PC12 cells derived from a rat pheochromocytoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum starved PC12 cells were exposed to polymeric and molecular forms of plutonium for 3 h. Cells were washed with 10 mM ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA), 100 mM NaCl at pH 7.4 to remove surface sorbed plutonium. Localization of plutonium in individual cell was quantitatively analyzed by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (XRF) microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Molecular plutonium complexes introduced to cell growth media in the form of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), citrate, or transferrin complexes were taken up by PC12 cells, and mostly colocalized with iron within the cells. Aged polymeric plutonium prepared separately was not internalized by PC12 cells but it was always found on the cell surface as big agglomerates; however, polymeric plutonium formed in situ was mostly found within the cells as agglomerates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PC12 cells can differentiate molecular and polymeric forms of plutonium. Molecular plutonium is taken up by PC12 cells and mostly co-localizes with iron but aged polymeric plutonium is not internalized by the cells.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60439, USA.
authors.forename: Baikuntha P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Aryal
authors.forename: Drew
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gorman-Lewis
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paunesku
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: Gayle E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Woloschak
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011005:Plutonium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D011005:Plutonium