Capacity of mercury volatilization by mer (from Escherichia coli) and glutathione S-transferase (from Schistosoma mansoni) genes cloned in Escherichia coli
L. Cursino et al., Capacity of mercury volatilization by mer (from Escherichia coli) and glutathione S-transferase (from Schistosoma mansoni) genes cloned in Escherichia coli, SCI TOTAL E, 261(1-3), 2000, pp. 109-113
A study was carried out to evaluate the capacity for mercury volatilization
by genetically engineered strains that express the mer and glutathione S-t
ransferase genes from Escherichia coli and Schistosoma mansoni, respectivel
y. This method enabled strains containing simultaneously mer and glutathion
e S-transferase genes to grow in high concentrations of mercuric chloride (
30 mu g/ml) and to volatilize part of the mercury (248 mu g/g cell dry wt.)
present in the culture medium, while strains bearing only a single gene, d
id not have the same behavior. Up to 70% of the total mercury of bacterial
volatilization occurred in the first 4 h. Although the findings were prelim
inary, the genetically engineered strain containing simultaneously the mel
and glutathione S-transferase genes show a great potential for bioremediati
on. It may be used in a closed system to remove by volatilization, and reco
ver mercury (Hg-0) from contaminated effluents, such as industrial effluent
, for instance. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese
rved.