title: Probing Synechocystis-Arsenic Interactions through Extracellular Nanowires.
abstract: Microbial nanowires (MNWs) can play an important role in the transformation and mobility of toxic metals/metalloids in environment. The potential role of MNWs in cell-arsenic (As) interactions has not been reported in microorganisms and thus we explored this interaction using Synechocystis PCC 6803 as a model system. The effect of half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) [~300 mM As (V) and ~4 mM As (III)] and non-inhibitory [4X lower than IC50, i.e., 75 mM As (V) and 1 mM As (III)] of As was studied on Synechocystis cells in relation to its effect on Chlorophyll (Chl) a, type IV pili (TFP)-As interaction and intracellular/extracellular presence of As. In silico analysis showed that subunit PilA1 of electrically conductive TFP, i.e., microbial nanowires of Synechocystis have putative binding sites for As. In agreement with in silico analysis, transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that As was deposited on Synechocystis nanowires at all tested concentrations. The potential of Synechocystis nanowires to immobilize As can be further enhanced and evaluated on a large scale and thus can be applied for bioremediation studies.
authors.affiliation: TERI-Deakin Nano biotechnology Centre, The Energy and Resources Institute Gurgaon, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sure
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology, Deakin University, Melbourne VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ackland
authors.affiliation: TERI-Deakin Nano biotechnology Centre, The Energy and Resources Institute Gurgaon, India.
authors.forename: Aditya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaur
authors.affiliation: TERI-Deakin Nano biotechnology Centre, The Energy and Resources Institute Gurgaon, India.
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: TERI-Deakin Nano biotechnology Centre, The Energy and Resources Institute Gurgaon, India.
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adholeya
authors.affiliation: TERI-Deakin Nano biotechnology Centre, The Energy and Resources Institute Gurgaon, India.
authors.forename: Mandira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kochar
keywords: PilA; Synechocystis; arsenic; microbial nanowires; pili