RESUMO

Select groups of bacteria, including prothescate species, have an unusual capacity to sequester gold and bioconcentrate it to very high levels. Hyphomonas adhaerens MHS-3 (MHS-3) is one such species, as demonstrated by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the binding site was specific on the polar polysaccharide capsule. A capsuleless mutant and periodate-treated wild type did not sequester gold. The gold may interact with the same sites in the capsule that naturally adhere MHS-3 to surfaces in the marine environment.

Assuntos

Alphaproteobacteria/metabolismo , Cápsulas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Coloide de Ouro/metabolismo , Alphaproteobacteria/genética , Cápsulas Bacterianas/genética , Microscopia Eletrônica/métodos