Inorganic and organic mercury resistance in Escherichia coli
The resistance to inorganic mercury (HgCl2) and organomercurials such as phenylmercuric acetate (PMA) and methylmercury chloride (MMC) in E. coli K-12 carrying plasmid R831 is determined by an inducible and plasmid-determined enzyme system. The inorganic mercury detoxifying enzyme, which reduces Hg S to Hg, was stimulated by 2-mercapto-ethanol and required NADPH for its activity. This enzyme bound to blue dextran sepharose affinity columns and was eluted with a low concentration of NADPH (0.02 mM). In addition to the inorganic mercury reductase, organomercurial degradation required one or more enzymes that are responsible for first hydrolizing the Hg-C bond (PMA benzene + Hg S; MMC methane + Hg S). When a crude 160,000X g soluble extract of French Press disrupted K-12 (R831) was chromatographed on Sephadex G150, two distinct peaks of PMA-hydrolyzing activity and one separate peak of MMG-hydrolyzing activity were found. This result indicates that at least two different hydrolases, one specific for alkylmercurials (MMC) and one specific for arylmercurials (PMA), may be involved in organomercurial resistance.
- Research Organization:
- Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO
- OSTI ID:
- 6253792
- Journal Information:
- Am. Soc. Microbiol., Abstr. Annu. Meet.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Soc. Microbiol., Abstr. Annu. Meet.; (United States) Vol. 76; ISSN ASMAC
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
COENZYMES
ELEMENTS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
ESCHERICHIA COLI
HYDROLASES
MERCURY
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
NADP
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PLASMIDS
SENSITIVITY