Mercury
Methylation by Dissimilatory Iron-Reducing Bacteria
E. J. Kerin,1,2 C. C. Gilmour,2*
E. Roden,3 M. T. Suzuki,1 J. D. Coates,4
and R. P. Mason5
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, P.O. Box 28,
647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD 21037.
Abstract
The Hg-methylating ability of dissimilatory
iron-reducing bacteria in the genera Geobacter,
Desulfuromonas, and Shewanella was examined.
All of the Geobacter and Desulfuromonas strains
tested methylated mercury while reducing Fe(III), nitrate,
or fumarate. In contrast, none of the Shewanella
strains produced methylmercury at higher levels than abiotic
controls under similar culture conditions. Geobacter
and Desulfuromonas are closely related to known
Hg-methylating sulfate-reducing bacteria within the Deltaproteobacteria.
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