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Mercury Resistance in a Plasmid-bearing Strain of Escherichia Coli

Overview
Journal J Bacteriol
Publisher American Society for Microbiology
Specialty Microbiology
Date 1972 Dec 1
PMID 4565536
Citations 70
Authors
A O Summers
S Silver
Affiliations
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Abstract

A strain of Escherichia coli carrying genes determining mercury resistance on a naturally occurring resistance transfer factor (RTF) converts 95% of 10(-5)m Hg(2+) (chloride) to metallic mercury at a rate of 4 to 5 nmoles of Hg(2+) per min per 10(8) cells. The metallic mercury is rapidly eliminated from the culture medium as mercury vapor. The volatilizing activity has a temperature dependence and heat sensitivity characteristic of enzymatic catalysis and is inducible by mercuric chloride. Ag(+) and Au(3+) are markedly inhibitory of mercury volatilization.

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