scholarly journals Enhanced Mercury Biosorption by Bacterial Cells with Surface-Displayed MerR

2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 3176-3180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weon Bae ◽  
Cindy H. Wu ◽  
Jan Kostal ◽  
Ashok Mulchandani ◽  
Wilfred Chen

ABSTRACT The metalloregulatory protein MerR, which exhibits high affinity and selectivity toward mercury, was exploited for the construction of microbial biosorbents specific for mercury removal. Whole-cell sorbents were constructed with MerR genetically engineered onto the surface of Escherichia coli cells by using an ice nucleation protein anchor. The presence of surface-exposed MerR on the engineered strains enabled sixfold-higher Hg2+ biosorption than that found in the wild-type JM109 cells. Hg2+ binding via MerR was very specific, with no observable decline even in the presence of 100-fold excess Cd2+ and Zn2+. The Hg2+ binding property of the whole-cell sorbents was also insensitive to different ionic strengths, pHs, and the presence of metal chelators. Since metalloregulatory proteins are currently available for a wide variety of toxic heavy metals, our results suggest that microbial biosorbents overexpressing metalloregulatory proteins may be used similarly for the cleanup of other important heavy metals.

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 10667-10677 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Attard ◽  
H. Yang ◽  
A.-M. Delort ◽  
P. Amato ◽  
U. Pöschl ◽  
...  

Abstract. Although ice nuclei from bacterial origin are known to be efficient at the highest temperatures known for ice catalysts, quantitative data are still needed to assess their role in cloud processes. Here we studied the effects of three typical cloud conditions (i) acidic pH (ii) NO2 and O3 exposure and (iii) UV-A exposure on the ice nucleation activity (INA) of four Pseudomonas strains. Three of the Pseudomonas syringae strains were isolated from cloud water and the phyllosphere and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CGina-01 was isolated from Antarctic glacier ice melt. Among the three conditions tested, acidic pH caused the most significant effects on INA likely due to denaturation of the ice nucleation protein complex. Exposure to NO2 and O3 gases had no significant or only weak effects on the INA of two P. syringae strains whereas the INA of P. fluorescens CGina-01 was significantly affected. The INA of the third P. syringae strain showed variable responses to NO2 and O3 exposure. These differences in the INA of different Pseudomonas suggest that the response to atmospheric conditions could be strain-specific. After UV-A exposure, a substantial loss of viability of all four strains was observed whereas their INA decreased only slightly. This corroborates the notion that under certain conditions dead bacterial cells can maintain their INA. Overall, the negative effects of the three environmental factors on INA were more significant at the warmer temperatures. Our results suggest that in clouds where temperatures are near 0 °C, the importance of bacterial ice nucleation in precipitation processes could be reduced by some environmental factors.


2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 9491-9516 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Attard ◽  
H. Yang ◽  
A.-M. Delort ◽  
P. Amato ◽  
U. Pöschl ◽  
...  

Abstract. Although ice nuclei from bacterial origin are known to be efficient at the highest temperatures known for ice catalysts, quantitative data are still needed to assess their role in cloud processes. Here we studied the effects of three typical cloud conditions (i) acidic pH (ii) NO2 and O3 exposure and (iii) UV-A exposure on the ice nucleation activity (INA) of four Pseudomonas strains. Three of the Pseudomonas syringae strains were isolated from cloud water and the phyllosphere and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CGina-01 was isolated from Antarctic glacier ice melt. Among the three conditions tested, acidic pH caused the most significant effects on INA likely due to denaturation of the ice nucleation protein complex. Exposure to NO2 and O3 gases had no significant or only weak effects on the INA of two P. syringae strains whereas the INA of P. fluorescens CGina-01 was significantly affected. The INA of the third P. syringae strain showed variable responses to NO2 and O3 exposure. These differences in the INA of different Pseudomonas suggest that the response to atmospheric conditions could be strain-specific. After UV-A exposure, a substantial loss of viability of all four strains was observed whereas their INA decreased only slightly. This corroborates the notion that under certain conditions dead bacterial cells can maintain their INA. Overall, the negative effects of the three environmental factors on INA were more significant at the warmer temperatures. Our results suggest that in clouds where temperatures are near 0 °C, the importance of bacterial ice nucleation in precipitation processes could be reduced by some environmental factors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinming Feng ◽  
Miaomiao Jin ◽  
Wei Huang ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
Mo Xian

Abstract Background Fluorinases play a unique role in the production of fluorine-containing organic molecules by biological methods. Whole-cell catalysis is a better choice in the large-scale fermentation processes, and over 60% of industrial biocatalysis uses this method. However, the in vivo catalytic efficiency of fluorinases is stuck with the mass transfer of the substrates. Results A gene sequence encoding a protein with fluorinase function was fused to the N-terminal of ice nucleation protein, and the fused fluorinase was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. SDS-PAGE and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to demonstrate the surface localization of the fusion protein. The fluorinase displayed on the surface showed good stability while retaining the catalytic activity. The engineered E.coli with surface-displayed fluorinase could be cultured to obtain a larger cell density, which was beneficial for industrial application. And 55% yield of 5′-fluorodeoxyadenosine (5′-FDA) from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) was achieved by using the whole-cell catalyst. Conclusions Here, we created the fluorinase-containing surface display system on E.coli cells for the first time. The fluorinase was successfully displayed on the surface of E.coli and maintained its catalytic activity. The surface display provides a new solution for the industrial application of biological fluorination. Graphical Abstract


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinming Feng ◽  
Miaomiao Jin ◽  
Wei Huang ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
Mo Xian

Abstract BackgroundFluorinases play a unique role in producing fluorinated organic molecules through a biological method. Whole-cell catalysis is a better choice in the large-scale fermentation processes, and over 60% of industrial biocatalysis uses this method. However, the in vivo catalytic efficiency of fluorinases is stuck with the mass transfer of the substrates.ResultsA gene sequence encoding a protein with fluorinase function was fused to the N-terminal of ice nucleation protein, and the fused protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. SDS-PAGE and Immunofluorescence microscopy were used to demonstrate the surface localization of the fusion protein. The fluorinase-containing surface display system with improved whole-cell catalytic efficiency and stability showed low growth pressure on the protein expressing host. The conversion rate of 5′-fluorodeoxyadenosine (5′-FDA) from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) achieved 55%.ConclusionsHere, we created the fluorinase-containing surface display system on E.coli cells for the first time. The fluorinase was successfully displayed on the surface of Escherichia coli and maintained its catalytic activity. The surface display offers a new solution for the industrial application of biological fluorination.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Azmal Ali ◽  
Deepti Mittal ◽  
Gurjeet Kaur

Abstract Industrialisation, directly or indirectly, exposes humans to various xenobiotics. The increased magnitude of chemical pesticides and toxic heavy metals in the environment, as well as their intrusion into the food chain, seriously threatens human health. Therefore, the surveillance of xenobiotics is crucial for social safety and security. Online investigation by traditional methods is not sufficient for the detection and identification of such compounds because of the high costs and their complexity. Advancement in the field of genetic engineering provides a potential opportunity to use genetically modified microorganisms. In this regard, whole-cell-based microbial biosensors (WCBMB) represent an essential tool that couples genetically engineered organisms with an operator/promoter derived from a heavy metal-resistant operon combined with a regulatory protein in the gene circuit. The plasmid controls the expression of the reporter gene, such as gfp, luc, lux and lacZ, to an inducible gene promoter and has been widely applied to assay toxicity and bioavailability. This review summarises the recent trends in the development and application of microbial biosensors and the use of mobile genes for biomedical and environmental safety concerns.


Author(s):  
MdDidarul Islam, Ashiqur Rahaman, Aboni Afrose

This study was based on determining concentration of essential and toxic heavy metal in coconut water available at a local Hazaribagh area in Dhaka, Bangladesh. All essential minerals, if present in the drinking water at high concentration or very low concentration, it has negative actions. In this study, fifteen samples and eight heavy metals were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) method which was followed by wet ashing digestion method. The concentration obtained in mg/l were in the range of 0.3 to 1.5, 7.77 to 21.2, 0 to 0.71, 0 to 0.9, 0 to 0.2, 0.9 to 17.3, 0.1 to 0.9, 0 to 0.9 and 0 to 0.7 for Fe, Ni, Cu, Cd, Cr, Zn, Pb and Se respectively. From this data it was concluded that any toxic heavy metals like Cd, Cr, Pb and Ni exceed their toxicity level and some essential nutrients were in low concentration in those samples. 


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 264
Author(s):  
Md Didarul Islam ◽  
Ashiqur Rahaman ◽  
Fahmida Jannat

This study was based on to determine the concentration of macro and micro nutrients as well as toxic and nontoxic heavy metals present in the chicken feed available in Dhaka city of Bangladesh. All macro nutrients, if present in the feed at high concentration have some adverse effect, at the same time if this nutrient present in the feed at low concentration this have some adverse effect too. So that this nutrient level should be maintained at a marginal level. On the other side toxic heavy metals if present in the feed at very low concentration those can contaminate the total environment of the ecosystem. In this study six brand samples (starter, grower, finisher and layer) which was collected from different renowned chicken feed formulation industry in Bangladesh. Those samples were prepared for analysis by wet ashing and then metals were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. It was found that 27.7 to 68.4, 57.3 to 121.9, 0.21 to 4.1, 0.32 to 2.1, 0.11 to 1.58, 0.28 to 2.11 and 0.28 to 1.78 for zinc, iron, copper, mercury, cadmium, nickel and cobalt respectively. It was found that essential macro and micro nutrients were present in the feed in low concentration on the other side mercury was present in high concentration in the feed samples.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (10) ◽  
pp. 2363-2366
Author(s):  
Delia Nica Badea

The paper evaluates the presence and content of traces of heavy metals Hg, Pb, Ni, Cd (total forms) from coal and solid combustion products, the degree of transfer and accessibility in the area of influence of a lignite power plant. The content of toxic heavy metals in residues are characterized by RE Meiji [ 1 (Pb and Hg) and REMeij �1 (Ni and Cd) for the filter ash. Pb and Ni content in the soil exceeds normal values, and Pb exceeds and alert value for sensitive soils around the residue deposit (70.20 mg.Kg-1). The degree of accessibility of the metals in plants (TF), reported at the Khan reference value (0.5), indicates a significant bioaccumulation level for the metals: Cd (1.9) and Hg (0.6) inside the deposit; Cd (0.39) at the base of the deposit, Hg (0.8) in the area of the thermal power plant. The trace levels of heavy metals analyzed by GFAAS and CVAAS (Hg), indicates a moderate risk potential for food safety and quality of life in the studied area.


Author(s):  
Varsha Shukla ◽  
Siddharth Kumar Das ◽  
Abbas Ali Mahdi ◽  
Shweta Agarwal ◽  
Ragini Alok ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is an extra-articular rheumatological disease characterised by widespread chronic musculoskeletal pain. Metal-induced oxidative stress contributes to the severity of FMS. AIMS: First, this study evaluated the association between plasma levels of toxic heavy metals and essential metals with oxidative stress (OS) markers. Second, the OS markers and metal contents were correlated with the disease severity by assessing the Fibromyalgia Impact Questioner Revised (FIQR) and tender points (TP). METHOD: A total of 105 FMS patients and 105 healthy controls of similar age and sex were recruited. OS parameter such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl group (PCG), nitric oxide (NO) and essential metals such as zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and toxic heavy metals such as aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), lead (Pb) were estimated. RESULTS: Levels of LPO, PCG, NO (p< 0.001) and Cu, Mn, and Al (p< 0.001), were significantly higher, and Mg (p< 0.001) and Zn (p< 0.001) were significantly lower in patients compared to controls. A positive association was observed between OS parameters, FIQR and TP with Cu, Al and Mn. A significant negative association was observed between Zn and Mg with FIQR, TP and OS parameters. CONCLUSION: Heavy metals such as Al induce OS parameters and decrease the levels of essential trace elements such as Mg and Zn, which may be responsible for the severity of FMS.


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