Capacity of mercury volatilization by mer (from Escherichia coli) and glutathione S-transferase (from Schistosoma mansoni) genes cloned in Escherichia coli.
A study was carried out to evaluate the capacity for mercury volatilization by genetically engineered strains that express the mer and glutathione S-transferase genes from Escherichia coli and Schistosoma mansoni, respectively. This method enabled strains containing simultaneously mer and glutathione S-transferase genes to grow in high concentrations of mercuric chloride (30 microg/ml) and to volatilize part of the mercury (248 microg/g cell dry wt.) present in the culture medium, while strains bearing only a single gene, did not have the same behavior. Up to 70% of the total mercury of bacterial volatilization occurred in the first 4 h. Although the findings were preliminary, the genetically engineered strain containing simultaneously the mer and glutathione S-transferase genes show a great potential for bioremediation. It may be used in a closed system to remove by volatilization, and recover mercury (Hg0) from contaminated effluents, such as industrial effluent, for instance.
Cursino
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L
Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Mattos
S V
SV
Azevedo
V
V
Galarza
F
F
Bücker
D H
DH
Chartone-Souza
E
E
Nascimento
A
A
D000818:Animals; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism*; D009876:Operon; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D014835:Volatilization
D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D008628:Mercury