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Title: Lead(II) resistance in Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34: interplay between plasmid and chromosomally-located functions

Journal Article · · Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

Proteome and transcriptome analysis, combined with mutagenesis, were used to better understand the response of Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 against lead(II). Structural Pb(II)-resistance genes of the pMOL30-encoded pbrUTRABCD operon formed the major line of defense against Pb(II). However, several general stress response mechanisms under the control of alternative sigma factors such as {sigma}24/rpoK, {sigma}32/rpoH and {sigma}28/fliA were also induced. In addition, the expression of the pbrR 2 cadA pbrC 2 operon of the CMGI-1 region and the chromosomally encoded zntA were clearly induced in the presence of Pb(II), although their respective gene products were not detected via proteomics. After inactivation of the pbrA, pbrB or pbrD genes, the expression of the pbrR 2 cadA pbrC 2 operon went up considerably. This points towards synergistic interactions between pbrUTRABCD and pbrR 2 cadA pbrC 2 to maintain a low intracellular Pb(II) concentration, where pbrR 2 cadA pbrC 2 gene functions can complement and compensate for the mutations in the pbrA and pbrD genes. This role of zntA and cadA to complement for the loss of pbrA was further confirmed by mutation analysis. The pbrB:Tn(Km2) mutation resulted in the most significant decrease of Pb(II) resistance, indicating that Pb(II) sequestration, avoiding re-entry of this toxic metal ion, forms a critical step in the pbr-encoded Pb(II) resistance mechanism.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
LABORATORY-DIRECTED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-98CH10886
OSTI ID:
1040217
Report Number(s):
BNL-90065-2009-JA; ALJMAO; R&D Project: 02-84b; YN0100000; TRN: US201210%%399
Journal Information:
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, Vol. 96, Issue 2; ISSN 0003-6072
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English