Volatilization of mercury by resting mercury-resistant bacterial cells

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s001289900039· OSTI ID:223891

Ghosh, S; Sadhukhan, P C; Ghosh, D K ^[1]

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1. Univ. College of Science, Calcutta (India); and others

The mercuric ion reduction systems encoded by the Hg{sup 2+}inducible mer operon confers bacterial resistance to mercuric ion. The mer A gene product which is a FAD-containing enzyme catalyzes the reduction of Hg{sup 2+} to volatile elemental mercury with the helo of intracellular thiols and NADP as a cofactor Our earlier studies have shown that growing cells of different mercury-resistant bacteria reduce Hg{sup 2+} compounds to Ha(O). We have also shown the effect of thiol compounds and flavins on mercury-degrading enzyme activities in mercury-resistant bacteria. Here we report that resting cells of mercury-resistant bacteria survive in a buffer system for several hours, synthesize inducible mercury-degrading enzymes and volatilize mercury from a mercury-containing buffer system. We know of no information regarding studies of mercury-degrading enzymes in resting mercury-resistant bacterial cells.

• OSTI ID: 223891
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 56; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
MERCURY
REDUCTION