Research Article Open Access

Plasmid Mediated Tolerance and Removal of Heavy Metals by Enterobacter sp

Bahig El-Deeb1
  • 1 Taif University, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Problem statement: The role of plasmid in the heavy metal resistance and accumulation by endophytic bacteria was investigated. Approach: The experimental results showed that high level plasmid mediated Cd2+ and Zn2+ resistance in this strain is due to decreased Cd2+ and/or Zn2+ uptake/accumulation by resistance strain. Results: Based on the fact that subsequent plasmid curing experiments demonstrated that the ability to grow in presence of Cd2+and Zn2+ was encoded by the 98 kb plasmid, whereas the ability to grow in presence of Pb2+ appeared to be encoded by the chromosome. The Cd2+ and Zn2+ removal capacity of the respective metal resistant strain (pBN4) were about 36 and 45 µg g-1 DW respectively, while the removal capacity of the both metal by sensitive variant showed a significant high Cd2+ and Zn2+ removal capacity of 153 and 228 µg g-1 DW respectively. Conclusion: The isolated endophytic Enterobacter was not only tolerant to heavy metals, but also bound considerable amount of heavy metals from the growth medium. The biosorbed order of the metals by parental strain and its cured derivatives strain based on the cell dry weight was found to be in the order of Pb2+> Zn2+>Cd2+.

American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Volume 5 No. 1, 2009, 47-53

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajbbsp.2009.47.53

Submitted On: 19 February 2009 Published On: 31 March 2009

How to Cite: El-Deeb, B. (2009). Plasmid Mediated Tolerance and Removal of Heavy Metals by Enterobacter sp. American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 5(1), 47-53. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajbbsp.2009.47.53

  • 3,590 Views
  • 3,667 Downloads
  • 46 Citations

Download

Keywords

  • heavy metals
  • plasmid
  • Enterobacter sp.
  • endophytic bacteria