Expression Levels of hgcAB Genes and Mercury Availability Jointly Explain Methylmercury Formation in Stratified Brackish Waters.

ABSTRACT: Neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) is formed by microbial methylation of inorganic divalent Hg (Hg^II) and constitutes severe environmental and human health risks. The methylation is enabled by hgcA and hgcB genes, but it is not known if the associated molecular-level processes are rate-limiting or enable accurate prediction of MeHg formation in nature. In this study, we investigated the relationships between hgc genes and MeHg across redox-stratified water columns in the brackish Baltic Sea. We showed, for the first time, that hgc transcript abundance and the concentration of dissolved Hg^II-sulfide species were strong predictors of both the Hg^II methylation rate and MeHg concentration, implying their roles as principal joint drivers

SUBMITTER: Capo E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9494745 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature