The ars genotype characterization of arsenic-resistant bacteria from arsenic-contaminated gold-silver mines in the Republic of Korea.
The isolates were identified on the basis of ars genotype characteristics as well as arsenic oxidation/reduction analysis based on the molecular detection characterization. Diversity, pH range (4.0 to 7.0), location, and ars features were assessed for four arsenic-contaminated pond sites and six arsenic tailings located in the Duck-um mine and Myoung-bong mine areas. The presence of ars genes in the genomes of each bacterial strain was evaluated using polymerase chain reaction. Batch experiment results showed that Pseudomonas putida strains OS-3 and -18 completely oxidized 1 mM of arsenite(III) to arsenate(V) within 35-40 h. In contrast, two arsenate-reducing bacteria isolated from mines, P. putida RS-4 and RS-5, were capable of growing aerobically in growth medium supplemented with up to 66.7 mM arsenate(V), which are significantly higher concentration than those tolerated by other arsenic-resistant bacteria. These results suggest that newly isolated indigenous arsenic-resistant bacteria may provide a better understanding of the molecular geomicrobiology and may be applied to the bioremediation of arsenic-contaminated mines in Korea. Ecologically, the redox potential plays an important role in arsenic toxicity and mobility in As-contaminated mine areas, as it facilitates the biogeochemical cycling activity of Pseudomonas sp. groups.
Chang
Jin-Soo
JS
Arsenic Geoenvironment Laboratory, Department of Environment Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 261 Cheomdan-gwagiro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, South Korea.
Kim
Yang-Hoon
YH
Kim
Kyoung-Woong
KW
D001151:Arsenic / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006046:Gold; D007723:Korea; D008906:Mining; D010802:Phylogeny; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012834:Silver; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D012834:Silver; D006046:Gold; D001151:Arsenic