Prevalence of Heterotrophic Methylmercury Detoxifying Bacteria across Oceanic Regions.

ABSTRACT: Microbial reduction of inorganic divalent mercury (Hg²⁺) and methylmercury (MeHg) demethylation is performed by the mer operon, specifically by merA and merB genes, respectively, but little is known about the mercury tolerance capacity of marine microorganisms and its prevalence in the ocean. Here, combining culture-dependent analyses with metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data, we show that marine bacteria that encode mer genes are widespread and active in the global ocean. We explored the distribution of these genes in 290 marine heterotrophic bacteria (Alteromonas and Marinobacter spp.) isolated from different oceanographic regions and depths, and assessed their tolerance to diverse concentrations of Hg²⁺ and MeHg. In part

SUBMITTER: Sanz-Saez I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8928480 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature