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Title: Genes for Uranium Bioremediation in the Anaerobic Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria

Abstract

Objective A: Electron transfer components necessary for uranium reduction. Objective B: Possible FNR-analog in the sulfate-reducing bacteria. Attempts to isolate FNR or FIKJ analogs from Desuflovibrio through the design of degenerate primers for amplification of portions of the genes has not been successful. In contrast, several amplicons have been generated for the genes encoding the regulators of two-component signal sequences. Since several global regulators fall into this class, we are attempting to obtain sufficient sequence information to indicate what metabolic pathways are affected by the regulators. Cloning and sequencing of two such amplicons has revealed that bona fide two-component regulators are present in Desulfovibrio.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE - Office of Environmental Management (EM)
OSTI Identifier:
893937
Report Number(s):
NABIR-1010098-1999
R&D Project: NABIR 1010098; TRN: US200625%%681
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; AMPLIFICATION; BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS; BIOREMEDIATION; CLONING; DESIGN; DESULFOVIBRIO; ELECTRON TRANSFER; GENES; SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA; URANIUM

Citation Formats

Wall, Judy D. Genes for Uranium Bioremediation in the Anaerobic Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria. United States: N. p., 1999. Web. doi:10.2172/893937.
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Wall, Judy D. Genes for Uranium Bioremediation in the Anaerobic Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria. United States. doi:10.2172/893937.
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Wall, Judy D. Tue . "Genes for Uranium Bioremediation in the Anaerobic Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria". United States. doi:10.2172/893937. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/893937.
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@article{osti_893937,
title = {Genes for Uranium Bioremediation in the Anaerobic Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria},
author = {Wall, Judy D.},
abstractNote = {Objective A: Electron transfer components necessary for uranium reduction. Objective B: Possible FNR-analog in the sulfate-reducing bacteria. Attempts to isolate FNR or FIKJ analogs from Desuflovibrio through the design of degenerate primers for amplification of portions of the genes has not been successful. In contrast, several amplicons have been generated for the genes encoding the regulators of two-component signal sequences. Since several global regulators fall into this class, we are attempting to obtain sufficient sequence information to indicate what metabolic pathways are affected by the regulators. Cloning and sequencing of two such amplicons has revealed that bona fide two-component regulators are present in Desulfovibrio.},
doi = {10.2172/893937},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999},
month = {Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999}
}
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Technical Report:
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DOI:  10.2172/893937
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  • Surprising results were obtained following an attempt to induce or derepress the machinery for U(VI) reduction by growing Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G20 in the presence of 1 mM uranyl acetate. G20 cells grown on lactate-sulfate medium amended with U(VI) reduced uranium at a slower rate than cells grown in the absence of this metal. When periplasmic extracts of these cells were prepared, Western analysis of the proteins revealed that the cytochrome c3 was absent. This observation has been further investigated.

  • The objectives of the previous grant period were designed to explore the electron transport pathway employed by the sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) for the reduction of U(VI) to U(IV). More specifically experiments were designed to determine whether U(VI) reduction by members of the genus Desulfovibrio was mediated by a unique, dedicated reductase or occurred as a fortuitous reaction with a reductase naturally involved in alternative reduction processes. In addition, the regulation of the hierarchical expression of terminal electron acceptors (reductases) in the SRB was to be examined.

  • ; ;
    Sulfate-reducing bacteria of the genus Desulfovibrio are ubiquitous in anaerobic environments such as groundwater, sediments, and the gastrointestinal tract of animals. Because of the ability of Desulfovibrio to reduce radionuclides and metals through both enzymatic and chemical means, they have been proposed as a means to bioremediate heavy metal contaminated sites. Although classically thought of as strict anaerobes, Desulfovibrio species are surprisingly aerotolerant. Our objective is to understand the response of Desulfovibrio to oxidative stress so that we may more effectively utilize them in bioremediation of heavy metals in mixed aerobic-anaerobic environments. The enzymes superoxide dismutase, superoxide reductase, catalase, andmore » rubrerythrin have been shown by others to be involved in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species in Desulfovibrio. Some members of the genus Desulfovibrio can even reduce molecular oxygen to water via a membrane bound electron transport chain with the concomitant production of ATP, although their ability to grow with oxygen as the sole electron acceptor is still questioned.« less

  • ;
    Anaerobic corrosion by sulfate-reducing bacteria appears to be caused by a highly active volatile phosphorus compound, which reacts with bulk iron to form iron phosphide. Preliminary evidence also indicates that the phosphorus compound may also be produced by the direct action of bacterially produced hydrogen sulfide on inorganic phosphorus compounds. Accordingly, any organism that produces hydrogen sulfide, under anaerobic conditions, in the presence of certain phosphorus compounds should stimulate the anaerobic corrosion of iron, providing the iron does not have a film of iron sulfide present. In addition to formation of the phosphorus compound and the metabolic production of hydrogenmore » sulfide by sulfate-reducing organisms, methylmercaptan and dimethyldisulfide are produced. These compounds were relatively non-corrosive to iron.« less

  • ; ; ; ...
    This research project was designed to examine the effect of trace metals and the control of sulfate reducing bacteria on the development of improved microbial strains to treat municipal solid wastes as well as industrial wastes. The objective was to examine which trace metals were important and at what concentrations. It was hoped to develop control techniques to limit the growth of sulfate reducing bacteria and to stimulate the more complete degradation by the methane bacteria.