title: Biosynthesis of micro- and nanocrystals of Pb (II), Hg (II) and Cd (II) sulfides in four Candida species: a comparative study of in vivo and in vitro approaches.
abstract: Nature produces biominerals (biogenic minerals) that are synthesized as complex structures, in terms of their physicochemical properties. These biominerals are composed of minerals and biological macromolecules. They are produced by living organisms and are usually formed through a combination of chemical, biochemical and biophysical processes. Microorganisms like Candida in the presence of heavy metals can biomineralize those metals to form microcrystals (MCs) and nanocrystals (NCs). In this work, MCs and NCs of PbS, HgS or HgCl2as well as CdS are synthesized both in vitro (gels) and in vivo by four Candida species. Our in vivo results show that, in the presence of Pb2+, Candida cells are able to replicate and form extracellular PbS MCs, whereas in the presence of Hg2+and Cd2+, they did synthesize intercellular MCs from HgS or HgCl2and CdS NCs respectively. The MCs and NCs biologically obtained in Candida were compared with those PbS, HgS and CdS crystals synthetically obtained in vitro through the gel method (grown either in agarose or in sodium metasilicate hydrogels). This is, to our knowledge, the first time that the biosynthesis of the various MCs and NCs (presented in several species of Candida) has been reported. This biosynthesis is differentially regulated in each of these pathogens, which allows them to adapt and survive in different physiological and environmental habitats.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Campus Guanajuato, Universidad de Guanajuato, Noria Alta S/N, Col. Noria Alta, C.P. 36050, Guanajuato, México.
authors.forename: Mayra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuéllar-Cruz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Campus Guanajuato, Universidad de Guanajuato, Noria Alta S/N, Col. Noria Alta, C.P. 36050, Guanajuato, México.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lucio-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, México.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martínez-Ángeles
authors.affiliation: Elettra - Sincrotone Trieste, S.S. 14 km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34149, Basovizza - Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Demitri
authors.affiliation: Elettra - Sincrotone Trieste, S.S. 14 km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34149, Basovizza - Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polentarutti
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N., Apdo. Postal 14-740, 07000, México, D.F, México.
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rosales-Hoz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, México.
authors.forename: Abel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreno
mesh_terms: D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002175:Candida / Q000378:metabolism*; D003460:Crystallization; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism*; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000378:metabolism*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013440:Sulfides; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury