The aim of this study was to evaluate whether intracellular detoxification mechanisms could explain, at least partially, the different sensitivity to Cd of two freshwater green algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Subcellular Cd distribution and the synthesis of metal-binding thiolated peptides were thus examined in both algae exposed to a range of free [Cd(2+)] from 0.7 to 253 nM. Cadmium partitioning among five subcellular fractions (cellular debris, granules, organelles, heat-denaturable proteins - HDP, and heat-stable proteins - HSP) was determined after differential centrifugation of algal homogenates. Thiolated-peptides, phytochelatins (PC(n)) and precursors, were analyzed by HPLC with pre-column monobromobimane derivatization. Cadmium accumulation per cell was 2-4 times greater for C. reinhardtii than for P. subcapitata, yet C. reinhardtii was more resistant to Cd with an EC(50) of 273 nM Cd(2+) [244-333 nM Cd(2+) CI(95%)]) compared to 127 nM Cd(2+) [111-143 nM Cd(2+) CI(95%)] for P. subcapitata. Although [Cd] generally increased in the organelle fractions when free [Cd(2+)] increased in the experimental media, their relative contributions to the total Cd cellular content decreased, suggesting that partial protection of some metal sensitive sites was achieved by the initiation of cellular detoxification mechanisms. An increase in the proportion of Cd in the granules fraction was observed for C. reinhardtii between 6 and 15 nM Cd(2+) (i.e., at [Cd(2+)]<the threshold for growth inhibition) suggesting the involvement of granules in protecting against the occurrence of toxic effects in C. reinhardtii. Both species also produced also high levels of PC(n), but with longer oligomers for C. reinhardtii. Unknown thiolated compounds (X(n)), which were not canonical or hydroxymethyl PC(n), were also found in both algae but at much higher concentrations for C. reinhardtii than for P. subcapitata. This difference in thiol synthesis could also be involved in the higher Cd resistance of C. reinhardtii with respect to P. subcapitata. This study demonstrates the importance of metal detoxification strategies in explaining the Cd sensitivity of different algal species.