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Mercury methylation by bacteria
Author(s) -
Trevors J. T.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of basic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.58
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1521-4028
pISSN - 0233-111X
DOI - 10.1002/jobm.3620260811
Subject(s) - mercury (programming language) , bacteria , methylation , chemistry , environmental chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , genetics , computer science , dna , programming language
Bacteria capable of methylating Hg 2+ have been isolated from sediment, water, soil and the gastrointestinal tract of humans. However, very little is known about the physiology and genetics of the mechanisms controlling Hg 2+ methylation. Mercury methylation can be either chromosomal or plasmid‐encoded in bacteria. In addition, the extent of nonbiological methylation is not well understood in environmental samples, where there are numerous physical, chemical and biological factors that control the methylation process. It is known that methylation of Hg 2+ is mediated by a series of enzymatic reactions that are also responsible for the anaerobic evolution of methane. However, under highly reduced environments the reaction can also occur nonbiologically. It is possible that certain bacteria use methylation as a resistance/detoxification mechanism.