Chlorine redox chemistry is widespread in microbiology.

ABSTRACT: Chlorine is abundant in cells and biomolecules, yet the biology of chlorine oxidation and reduction is poorly understood. Some bacteria encode the enzyme chlorite dismutase (Cld), which detoxifies chlorite (ClO₂^-) by converting it to chloride (Cl^-) and molecular oxygen (O₂). Cld is highly specific for chlorite and aside from low hydrogen peroxide activity has no known alternative substrate. Here, we reasoned that because chlorite is an intermediate oxidation state of chlorine, Cld can be used as a biomarker for oxidized chlorine species. Cld was abundant in metagenomes from various terrestrial habitats. About 5% of bacterial and archaeal genera contain a microorganism encoding Cld in its genome, and within some genera Cld is highly conserved. Cld

SUBMITTER: Barnum TP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9751292 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature