Open AccessSelenate reduction by a Pseudomonas species: a new mode of anaerobic respiration
Author(s) -
Macy Joan M.,
Michel Thomas A.,
Kirsch Donald G.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1989.tb03577.x
Subject(s) - selenate , selenium , chemistry , anaerobic exercise , environmental chemistry , pseudomonas , anaerobic respiration , biochemistry , bacteria , biology , organic chemistry , physiology , genetics
Abstract The high levels of selenium (selenate, selenite) in agricultural drainage water in the San Joaquin Valley of California, which have led to environmental problems, might be lowered if the selenate/selenite could be reduced to elemental insoluble selenium [1]. Two organisms have been newly isolated which do this in anaerobic coculture. One, a strictly anaerobic, Gram‐positive rod, reduces selenite to elemental selenium. The other, a Pseudomonas species, was shown to respire selenate to selenite. Cells grown anaerobically in Minimal Medium on acetate plus selenate oxidized 14 C‐acetate to 14 CO 2 with concomitant reduction of selenate to selenite and small amounts of elemental selenium.