Alcaligenes eutrophus CH34 is a facultative chemolithotroph with plasmid-bound resistance to heavy metals

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · J. Bacteriol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5662910

Mergeay, M; Nies, D; Schlegel, H G; Gerits, J; Charles, P; Van Gijsegem, F

Alcaligenes eutrophus strain CH34, which was isolated as a bacterium resistant to cobalt, zinc, and cadmium ions, shares with A. eutrophus strain H16 the ability to grow lithoautotrophically on molecular hydrocarbon, to form a cytoplasmic NAD-reducing and a membrane-bound hydrogenase, and most metabolic attributes; however, it does not grow on fructose. Strain CH34 contains two plasmids, pMOL28 (163 kilobases) specifying nickel, mercury, and cobalt resistance and pMOL30 (238 kilobases) specifying zinc, cadmium, mercury, and cobalt resistance. The plasmids are self-transmissible in homologous matings, but at low frequencies. The transfer frequency was strongly increased with IncP1 plasmids RP4 and pUZ8 as helper plasmids. The phenotypes of the wild type, cured strains, and transconjugants are characterized by the following MICs (Micromolar) in strains with the indicated phenotypes: Nic/sup +/, 2.5; Nic/sup -/, 0.6; Cob/sup +/A, 5.0; Cob/sup +/B, 20.0; Cob/sup -/, < 0.07; Zin/sup +/, 12.0; Zin/sup -/, 0.6; Cad/sup +/, 2.5; and Cad/sup -/, 0.6. Plasmid-free cells of strain CH34 are still able to grow lithoautotrophically and to form both hydrogenases, indicating that the hydrogenase genes are located on the chromosome, in contrast to the Hox structural genes of strain H16, which are located on the megaplasmid pHG1 (450 kilobases).

• Research Organization: SCK/CEN, Mol, Belgium
• OSTI ID: 5662910
• Journal Information: J. Bacteriol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Bacteriol.; (United States) Vol. 162:1; ISSN JOBAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560302* -- Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology-- Microorganisms-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BACTERIA
CADMIUM
CELL CONSTITUENTS
COBALT
ELEMENTS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
GROWTH
HYDROGENASES
MERCURY
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
NICKEL
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PHENOTYPE
PLASMIDS
TOLERANCE
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ZINC