Arsenic metabolism by microbes in nature and the impact on arsenic remediation

Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2009 Dec;20(6):659-67. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2009.09.013. Epub 2009 Oct 31.

Abstract

In nature, both prokaryotes and eukaryotes have evolved a wide spectrum of pathways such as oxidation/reduction, compartmentalization, exclusion, and immobilization [16] as the main natural defense mechanisms to arsenic. This review highlights our current understanding of the biochemistry and molecular biology involved in these natural arsenic metabolisms, and some successful examples of engineered microbes by harnessing these natural mechanisms for effective remediation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic / chemistry
  • Arsenic / metabolism*
  • Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Biotechnology / methods*
  • Biotechnology / trends
  • Environmental Pollutants / metabolism*
  • Environmental Restoration and Remediation*
  • Fungi / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Methylation
  • Models, Biological
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxygen / chemistry

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Arsenic
  • Oxygen