Shedding light on selenium biomineralization: proteins associated with bionanominerals

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2011 Jul;77(13):4676-80. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01713-10. Epub 2011 May 20.

Abstract

Selenium-reducing microorganisms produce elemental selenium nanoparticles with particular physicochemical properties due to an associated organic fraction. This study identified high-affinity proteins associated with such bionanominerals and with nonbiogenic elemental selenium. Proteins with an anticipated functional role in selenium reduction, such as a metalloid reductase, were found to be associated with nanoparticles formed by one selenium respirer, Sulfurospirillum barnesii.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacillus / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / analysis*
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Epsilonproteobacteria / metabolism*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Rhodospirillum rubrum / metabolism
  • Selenium / metabolism*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Selenium