Heavy metal resistance in halophilic Bacteria and Archaea.
Heavy metals are dense chemicals with dual biological role as micronutrients and intoxicants. A few hypersaline environmental systems are naturally enriched with heavy metals, while most metal-contaminated sites are a consequence of human activities. Numerous halotolerant and moderately halophilic Bacteria possess metal tolerance, whereas a few archaeal counterparts share similar features. The main mechanisms underlying heavy metal resistance in halophilic Bacteria and Archaea include extracellular metal sequestration by biopolymers, metal efflux mediated by specific transporters and enzymatic detoxification. Biotransformation of metals by halophiles has implications both for trace metal turnover in natural saline ecosystems and for development of novel bioremediation strategies.
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Doriana Mădălina
DM
Voica
Molecular Biology Center, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research in Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babeş-Bolyai University, 400271 Cluj-Napoca, Romania Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Laszlo
L
Bartha
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania Molecular Biology Center, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research in Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babeş-Bolyai University, 400271 Cluj-Napoca, Romania horia.banciu@ubbcluj.ro.
Horia Leonard
HL
Banciu
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Institute of Life Sciences, Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904 Jerusalem, Israel.
Aharon
A
Oren
D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D001105:Archaea / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001692:Biological Transport; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011387:Prokaryotic Cells / Q000502:physiology; D054712:Salinity
D019216:Metals, Heavy
arsenic; biotransformation; haloarchaea; heavy metal efflux; metal bioreduction; metal sequestration