The polar polysaccharide capsule of Hyphomonas adhaerens MHS-3 has a strong affinity for gold.
Select groups of bacteria, including prothescate species, have an unusual capacity to sequester gold and bioconcentrate it to very high levels. Hyphomonas adhaerens MHS-3 (MHS-3) is one such species, as demonstrated by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the binding site was specific on the polar polysaccharide capsule. A capsuleless mutant and periodate-treated wild type did not sequester gold. The gold may interact with the same sites in the capsule that naturally adhere MHS-3 to surfaces in the marine environment.
Quintero
E J
EJ
Departmento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Santa María La Antigua, PO Box 6-1696, El Dorado, Panama, Panama.
Langille
S E
SE
Weiner
R M
RM
D020561:Alphaproteobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017979:Gold Colloid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods
D017979:Gold Colloid