Engineering the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida for arsenic methylation

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2013 Jul;79(14):4493-5. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01133-13. Epub 2013 May 3.

Abstract

Accumulation of arsenic has potential health risks through consumption of food. Here, we inserted the arsenite [As(III)] S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase (ArsM) gene into the chromosome of Pseudomonas putida KT2440. Recombinant bacteria methylate inorganic arsenic into less toxic organoarsenicals. This has the potential for bioremediation of environmental arsenic and reducing arsenic contamination in food.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Algal Proteins / genetics
  • Algal Proteins / metabolism
  • Arsenic / metabolism*
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / genetics
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Environmental Restoration and Remediation / methods*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Methylation
  • Methyltransferases / genetics*
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • Organisms, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Organisms, Genetically Modified / metabolism
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Pseudomonas putida / genetics*
  • Pseudomonas putida / metabolism*
  • Soil Pollutants / metabolism*

Substances

  • Algal Proteins
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Methyltransferases
  • Arsenic