title: Engineering a mouse metallothionein on the cell surface of Ralstonia eutropha CH34 for immobilization of heavy metals in soil.
abstract: Here we describe targeting of the mouse metallothionein I (MT) protein to the cell surface of the heavy metal-tolerant Ralstonia eutropha (formerly Alcaligenes eutrophus) CH34 strain, which is adapted to thrive in soils highly polluted with metal ions. DNA sequences encoding MT were fused to the autotransporter beta-domain of the IgA protease of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which targeted the hybrid protein toward the bacterial outer membrane. The translocation, surface display, and functionality of the chimeric MTbeta protein was initially demonstrated in Escherichia coli before the transfer of its encoding gene (mtb) to R. eutropha. The resulting bacterial strain, named R. eutropha MTB, was found to have an enhanced ability for immobilizing Cd2+ ions from the external media. Furthermore, the inoculation of Cd2+-polluted soil with R. eutropha MTB decreased significantly the toxic effects of the heavy metal on the growth of tobacco plants (Nicotiana bentamiana).
authors.affiliation: Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Av. Diagonal 645, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028-Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valls
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atrian
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Lorenzo
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism; D002105:Cadmium Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D020118:Cupriavidus necator / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000201:enzymology; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D004247:DNA; D008668:Metallothionein; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C021433:IgA-specific serine endopeptidase