Mercury and organomercurial resistances determined by plasmids in Pseudomonas

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · J. Bacteriol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6309411

Clark, D L; Weiss, A A; Silver, S

Mercury and organomercurial resistance determined by genes on ten Pseudomonas aeruginosa plasmids and one Pseudomonas putida plasmid have been studied with regard to the range of substrates and the range of inducers. The plasmidless strains were sensitive to growth inhibition by Hg/sup 2 +/ and did not volatilize Hg/sup 0/ from Hg/sup 2 +/. All 10 plasmids determine mercury resistance by way of an inducible enzyme system. Hg/sup 2 +/ was reduced to Hg/sup 0/, which is insoluble in water and rapidly volatilizes from the growth medium. Plasmids pMG1, pMG2, R26, R933, R93-1, and pVS1 in P. aeruginosa and MER in P. putida conferred resistance to and the ability to volatilize mercury from Hg/sup 2 +/, but strains with these plasmids were sensitive to and could not volatilize mercury from the organomercurials methylmercury, ethylmercury, phenylmercury, and thimerosal. These plasmids, in addition, conferred resistance to the organomercurials merbromin, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, and fluorescein mercuric acetate. The other plasmids, FP2, R38, R3108, and pVS2, determined resistance to and decomposition of a range of organomercurials, including methylmercury, ethylmercury, phenylmercury, and thimerosal. These plasmids also conferred resistance to the organomercurials merbromin, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, and fluorescein mercuric acetate by a mechanism not involving degradation. Hg/sup 2 +/ resistance with strains that are organomercurial sensitive appeared to be induced preferentially by Hg/sup 2 +/ and only poorly by organomercurials to which the cells are sensitive.

• Research Organization: Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO
• OSTI ID: 6309411
• Journal Information: J. Bacteriol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Bacteriol.; (United States) Vol. 132:1; 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
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
MERCURY
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
PLASMIDS
PSEUDOMONAS
SENSITIVITY
TOLERANCE
TOXICITY
VARIATIONS