Role of the capsule produced by Bacillus megaterium ATCC 19213 in the accumulation of metallic cations.
A study was undertaken to determine if the capsule produced by Bacillus megaterium ATCC 19213 was capable of binding metallic ions. For non-toxic metallic ions, this was accomplished by determining the relative concentrations of Fe2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, and Mn2+ removed from a chemically defined medium by the normally capsulated parent strain and two mutants with much smaller capsules. For toxic metals, the rates of respiration of the parent strain and a small capsule mutant in the presence of Cu2+, Hg2+, and Ag1+ were compared. It was found that the parent strain accumulated more Ca2+, Mg2+, and Mn2+. Accumulation of Fe2+ and Zn2+ was similar for the parent strain and the small capsule mutants. Respiration of the parent strain was less inhibited by Cu2+, Hg2+, and Ag1+, indicating that these metals are also bound to the capsule.
D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D008345:Manganese / Q000378:metabolism; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
D003470:Culture Media; D008670:Metals; D008345:Manganese; D007501:Iron; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium