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. 1972 Dec;112(3):1228–1236. doi: 10.1128/jb.112.3.1228-1236.1972

Mercury Resistance in a Plasmid-Bearing Strain of Escherichia coli

Anne O Summers 1, Simon Silver 1
PMCID: PMC251553  PMID: 4565536

Abstract

A strain of Escherichia coli carrying genes determining mercury resistance on a naturally occurring resistance transfer factor (RTF) converts 95% of 10−5m Hg2+ (chloride) to metallic mercury at a rate of 4 to 5 nmoles of Hg2+ per min per 108 cells. The metallic mercury is rapidly eliminated from the culture medium as mercury vapor. The volatilizing activity has a temperature dependence and heat sensitivity characteristic of enzymatic catalysis and is inducible by mercuric chloride. Ag+ and Au3+ are markedly inhibitory of mercury volatilization.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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