title: A model for mercuric ion reduction in recombinant Escherichia coli.
abstract: Plasmid-encoded mercuric reduction involves transfer of Hg(2+) across the cellular envelope and reduction to Hg(0) by the cytoplasmic mercuric reductase using NADPH. A mathematical model was developed for the binding and transfer of Hg(2+) by transport proteins and the subsequent reduction of Hg(2+). The values of the model parameters were determined using experimental data. The derived rate expressions were similar to the previously experimentally determined ones. The model predicted that a differential amplification of the transport protein relative to mercuric reductase expression levels may enhance the Hg(2+) reduction rate in whole cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Philippidis
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Schottel
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Hu