Bacterium-Based Heavy Metal Biosorbents: Enhanced Uptake of Cadmium by E. coli Expressing a Metallothionein Fused to β-Galactosidase. (March 2002)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yoshida, N.; Kato, T.; Yoshida, T.; Ogawa, K.; Yamashita, M.; Murooka, Y.
• Is Part Of: Biotechniques. Volume 32:Number 3(2002)
• Page Start: 551
• Page End: 558
• Publication Date: 2002-03
• Subjects: Biology, Experimental -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Medical technology -- Periodicals; Biology, Experimental; Medical technology; Molecular biology; Clinical Laboratory Techniques -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Medical Laboratory Science -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 570
• DOI: 10.2144/02323st08
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0736-6205

Abstract

We investigated the potential utility of a recombinant E. coli that expresses the human metallothionein II gene as a fusion protein with β -galactosidase as a heavy metal biosorbent. E. coli cells expressing the metallothionein fusion demonstrated enhanced binding of Cd 2+ compared to cells that lack the metallothionein. It was shown that the metallothionein fusion was capable of efficiently removing Cd 2+ from solutions. Approximately 40% of the Cd 2+ accumulated by the recombinant cells free in suspension was associated with the outer cell membrane, and 60% of that was present in the cytoplasm.