title: Evidence for high affinity nickel transporter genes in heavy metal resistant Streptomyces spec.
abstract: We have isolated 25 new strains of streptomycetes from soil samples of a polluted site at the former uranium mine, Wismut, in eastern Thuringia, Germany. The strains grew on medium containing 1 mM NiCl2 and thus were resistant to the heavy metal ion. Seven of the strains were further characterized. All of these strains were resistant to heavy metals in various degrees with up to 10 mM resistance against NiCl2 supplied with the liquid minimal growth medium. The high level of resistance prompted us to look for high affinity nickel transporter genes thought to provide a means to eliminate the excess nickel ions form the cells. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers derived from sequences of P-type ATPase transporter genes of Gram negative bacteria identified a fragment which shows deduced amino acid sequence similarities to known high affinity nickel transporters. Investigation of two genes obtained from the isolates Streptomyces spec. E8 and F4 showed high sequence divergence. This was unexpected since a transmissible plasmid had been thought to convey heavy metal resistance.
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Biologisch-Pharmazeutische Fakultät, Institut für Mikrobiologie, Mikrobielle Phytopathologie, Winzerlaer Str. 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitscherlich
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schumann
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kothe
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017920:Antiporters / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008906:Mining; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009532:Nickel / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014501:Uranium
chemical_list: D017920:Antiporters; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; C089761:HoxN protein, bacteria; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D019216:Metals, Heavy; C095257:NixA protein, Helicobacter pylori; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014501:Uranium; D009532:Nickel