A bacterium that can grow by using arsenic instead of phosphorus
Journal Article
·
· Science
OSTI ID:1016932
Life is mostly composed of the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus. Although these six elements make up nucleic acids, proteins and lipids and thus the bulk of living matter, it is theoretically possible that some other elements in the periodic table could serve the same functions. Here we describe a bacterium, strain GFAJ-1 of the Halomonadaceae, isolated from Mono Lake, CA, which substitutes arsenic for phosphorus to sustain its growth. Our data show evidence for arsenate in macromolecules that normally contain phosphate, most notably nucleic acids and proteins. Exchange of one of the major bio-elements may have profound evolutionary and geochemical significance.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 1016932
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-JRNL-461598; SCEHDK; TRN: US1103152
- Journal Information:
- Science, Vol. 332, Issue 6034; ISSN 0193-4511
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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