Effect of sulfide, selenite and mercuric mercury on the growth and methylation capacity of the sulfate reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans

Truong, H; Chen, Y; Belzile, N

HERO ID

2012749

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2013

Language

English

PMID

23454698

HERO ID 2012749
In Press No
Year 2013
Title Effect of sulfide, selenite and mercuric mercury on the growth and methylation capacity of the sulfate reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans
Authors Truong, H; Chen, Y; Belzile, N
Journal Science of the Total Environment
Volume 449
Page Numbers 373-384
Abstract Cultures of the sulfate reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio desulfuricans were grown under anoxic conditions to study the effect of added sulfide, selenite and mercuric ions. A chemical trap consisting in a CuSO4 solution was used to control the poisoning effect induced by the bacterial production of hydrogen sulfide via the precipitation of CuS. Following the addition of Hg(2+), the formation of methylmercury (MeHg) was correlated to bacterial proliferation with most of MeHg found in the culture medium. A large fraction (50-80%) of added Hg(2+) to a culture ended up in a solid phase (Hg(0) and likely HgS) limiting its bioavailability to cells with elemental Hg representing ~40% of the solid. Following the addition of selenite, a small fraction was converted into Se(0) inside the cells and, even though the conversion to this selenium species increased with the increase of added selenite, it never reached more than 49% of the added amount. The formation of volatile dimethylselenide is suggested as another detoxification mechanism. In cultures containing both added selenite and mercuric ions, elemental forms of the two compounds were still produced and the increase of selenium in the residual fraction of the culture suggests the formation of mercuric selenite limiting the bioavailability of both elements to cells.
Doi 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.01.054
Pmid 23454698
Wosid WOS:000317538200043
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword SRB Desulfovibrio desulfuricans; Sulfide; Mercury; Selenium; Detoxification mechanisms