Mechanisms for the reduction of radionuclides and other metal contaminants in Geobacter sulfurreducens

Conference · Wed Apr 05 04:00:00 EDT 2006

OSTI ID:894939

Lloyd, Jon R; Renshaw, Joanna C; Law, Nick; May, Iain; Livens, Francis R

Many dissimilatory metal-reducing microorganisms can reduce the key radioactive contaminants, U and Tc from soluble high oxidation state forms to insoluble, low oxidation states forms (1). Little is known about the enzymatic mechanisms for these bioreductions. An understanding of these mechanisms is needed if these microorganisms are to be exploited in bioremediation technologies effectively and modeled accurately. G. sulfurreducens has been chosen for study because: It is an important component of subsurface biota (2); It's entire genome sequence is available (2); and A genetic system for this organism is available (3). The aims and objectives are: (1) To characterize the mechanisms of U(VI) and Tc(VII) reduction in G. sulfurreducens. (2) To confirm the identity of the genes encoding the relevant reductases in this organism. (3) To determine the range of other radionuclides (Np, Pu) and key metal pollutants (Cr, Hg, Co) reduced by G. sulfurreducens. (4) To identify the roles of the U(VI) and Tc(VII) reductases in the reduction of these other key pollutants.

• Research Organization: University of Manchester, UK
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-02ER63422
• OSTI ID: 894939
• Report Number(s): CONF-ERSP2006-70
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BIOREMEDIATION
GENES
GENETICS
MICROORGANISMS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
POLLUTANTS
RADIOISOTOPES
VALENCE