title: Mercury resistance in a plasmid-bearing strain of Escherichia coli.
abstract: A strain of Escherichia coli carrying genes determining mercury resistance on a naturally occurring resistance transfer factor (RTF) converts 95% of 10(-5)m Hg(2+) (chloride) to metallic mercury at a rate of 4 to 5 nmoles of Hg(2+) per min per 10(8) cells. The metallic mercury is rapidly eliminated from the culture medium as mercury vapor. The volatilizing activity has a temperature dependence and heat sensitivity characteristic of enzymatic catalysis and is inducible by mercuric chloride. Ag(+) and Au(3+) are markedly inhibitory of mercury volatilization.
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D002712:Chlorides; D002725:Chloroform; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D005111:Extrachromosomal Inheritance; D005796:Genes; D005827:Genetics, Microbial; D006046:Gold / Q000494:pharmacology; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008626:Mercuribenzoates / Q000494:pharmacology; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008629:Mercury Isotopes; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology; D012997:Solvents; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature; D014050:Toluene; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D008626:Mercuribenzoates; D008629:Mercury Isotopes; D012997:Solvents; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014050:Toluene; D012834:Silver; D006046:Gold; D002725:Chloroform; D008628:Mercury