Plasmid-determined heavy metal resistances in Staphylococcus aureus

Journal Article · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1975 · Am. Soc. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5264306

Weiss, A; Schottel, J; Silver, S

Plasmid PI258 of S. aureus has separate genes determining resistance to cadmium and to mercury and the organomercurial phenylmercury acetate. Mercury(ial) resistance is due to the inducible synthesis of a mercury volatilization system. Hg/sup 2 +/ and mercury in phenylmercury acetate is enzymatically reduced to Hg/sup 0/, which is insoluble in water and highly volatile. PI258 differs from most enteric or pseudomonad plasmids which have been studied which determine resistance only to inorganic Hg/sup 2 +/. Cadmium resistance has been found only with staph plasmids. Cadmium resistance is constitutive and is associated with a lower accumulation of cadmium by the plasmid-bearing resistant cells. Cadmium accumulation by sensitive cells is energy-dependent and has those characteristics usually associated with a transmembrane active transport system. There is a specific interrelationship between cadmium accumulation and manganese accumulation and retention. Cd/sup 2 +/ competitively inhibits the uptake of Mn/sup 2 +/ and accelerates the loss of intracellular Mn/sup 2 +/ by the sensitive but has no effect on the resistant S. aureus. Under similar conditions there is no differential effect of Cd/sup 2 +/ on Mg/sup 2 +/, Zn/sup 2 +/, Co/sup 2 +/ or Rb/sup +/ accumulation or exchange between the sensitive and the resistant strains.

• Research Organization: Washington Univ. St. Louis, MO
• OSTI ID: 5264306
• Journal Information: Am. Soc. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Soc. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 76
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560302* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Microorganisms-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BACTERIA
BIOLOGY
CADMIUM
CATIONS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COBALT COMPOUNDS
ELEMENTS
GENES
GENETICS
IONS
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MANGANESE COMPOUNDS
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
MERCURY
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
NUTRIENTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
PLASMIDS
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
RETENTION
RUBIDIUM COMPOUNDS
SENSITIVITY
STAPHYLOCOCCUS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
ZINC COMPOUNDS