Bacterial phytochelatin synthetase
OwnerMichael Howard, Steven Hutcheson +1inventors
InventorsMichael Howard, Steven Hutcheson, Ronald Weiner
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the discovery of a gene in a bacterium expressing a protein that has an activity similar to plant phytochelatin synthetase. This gene was discovered in the marine γ-proteobacterium Microbulbifer degradans strain 2-40, and is cloned and expressed in the bacterium Escherichia coli. Bacteria expressing this gene are useful in remediation of contaminated solids and liquids and in the extraction of rare and/or valuable metals.
Claims22
An isolated polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
An isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
An isolated polynucleotide complementary to SEQ ID NO:1 under a stringency condition of from 1×SSC to 10×SSC.
A chimeric gene comprising at least one polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
A vector comprising SEQ ID NO:1.
An isolated polypeptide expressed in Escherichia coli coding for a polypeptide having phytochelatin synthetase activity.
A method for isolating at least one metal from a mixture, the method comprising:
- a) exposing at least one bacterium expressing phytochelatin synthetase activity to the mixture;
- b) allowing the at least one bacterium to sequester the at least one metal;
- c) isolating the at least one bacterium from the mixture, and
- d) optionally isolating the at least one metal from the at least one bacterium.
A method for remediating an area comprising at least one metal, the method comprising:
- a) treating the area with at least one bacterium expressing phytochelatin synthetase activity;
- b) allowing the at least one bacterium to sequester the at least one metal;
- c) isolating the at least one bacterium from the area, and
- d) optionally isolating the at least one metal from the at least one bacterium.
An apparatus for the extraction of at least one metal, the apparatus comprising:
- a) at least one vessel comprising an organism able to express phytochelatin synthetase;
- b) an inlet for a first composition comprising the at least one metal;
- and
- c) a first outlet for a second composition not comprising the at least one metal.
A method for identifying at least one nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having phytochelatin synthetase activity from M. degradans, the method comprising constructing an M. degradans genomic library in E. coli and screening the library for phytochelatin synthetase activity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.