Mercury resistance in a plasmid-bearing strain of Escherichia coli

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1972 · J. Bacteriol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5878484

Summers, A O; Silver, S

A strain of Escherichia coli carrying genes determining mercury resistance on a naturally occurring resistance transfer factor (RTF) converts 95% of 10/sup -5/ M Hg/sup 2 +/ (chloride) to metallic mercury at a rate of 4 to 5 n moles of Hg/sup 2 +/ per min per 10/sup 8/ cells. The metallic mercury is rapidly eliminated from the culture medium as mercury vapor. The volatilizing activity has a temperature dependence and heat sensitivity characteristic of enzymatic catalysis and is inducible by mercuric chloride, Ag/sup +/ and Au/sup 3 +/ are markedly inhibitory of mercury volatilization.

• Research Organization: Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO
• OSTI ID: 5878484
• Journal Information: J. Bacteriol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Bacteriol.; (United States) Vol. 112; ISSN JOBAA
• 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.
BACTERIA
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
ESCHERICHIA COLI
FLUIDS
GASES
GENES
GOLD
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INHIBITION
MERCURY
MERCURY CHLORIDES
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
METABOLISM
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
PLASMIDS
SILVER
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VAPORS