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Response to mercury (II) ions in Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath)

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Boden, Rich and Murrell, J. C. (J. Colin). (2011) Response to mercury (II) ions in Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). FEMS Microbiology Letters, Vol.324 (No.2). pp. 106-110. ISSN 0378-1097

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6968.2011.02395.x

Abstract

The mercury (II) ion is toxic and is usually detoxified in Bacteria by reduction to elemental mercury, which is less toxic. This is catalysed by an NAD(P)H-dependent mercuric reductase (EC 1.16.1.1). Here, we present strong evidence that Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) - a methanotrophic member of the Gammaproteobacteria - uses this enzyme to detoxify mercury. In radiorespirometry studies, it was found that cells exposed to mercury dissimilated 100% of [(14)C]methane provided to generate reducing equivalents to fuel mercury (II) reduction, rather than the mix of assimilation and dissimilation found in control incubations. The detoxification system is constitutively expressed with a specific activity of 352 (+/- 18) nmol NADH oxidized min(-1) (mg protein)(-1). Putative mercuric reductase genes were predicted in the M. capsulatus (Bath) genome and found in mRNA microarray studies. The MerA-derived polypeptide showed high identity (> 80%) with MerA sequences from the Betaproteobacteria.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

Q Science > QP Physiology
Q Science > QR Microbiology

Divisions:

Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- )

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

Heavy metals -- Physiological effect, Flavoproteins, Methanotrophs, Oxidoreductases, Metal ions -- Metabolism

Journal or Publication Title:

FEMS Microbiology Letters

Publisher:

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

ISSN:

0378-1097

Official Date:

November 2011

Dates:

Date	Event
November 2011	Published

Volume:

Vol.324

Number:

No.2

Page Range:

pp. 106-110

Identification Number:

10.1111/j.1574-6968.2011.02395.x

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Publication Status:

Published

Access rights to Published version:

Restricted or Subscription Access

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