Project Summary (2000-2005)

The primary objective of this project is to study the mechanisms of transformation and the fate of toxic substances in coastal environments. The molecular mechanisms by which metal contaminants are transformed from soluble phases to insoluble phases will be examined and the contribution from different physiological groups of bacteria to this process will be evaluated. Experiments will focus on the expression of genes and the characterization of multicopper oxidase-like proteins involved in catalyzing Mn(II) oxidation in different bacterial groups. In addition, project investigators have identified several novel bacteria that resist the toxic levels of Cr(VI) and grow with Cr(VI) as an electron acceptor. The second part of this project will examine the biochemical basis for Cr(VI) reduction in these novel Cr(VI)-reducing bacteria and study the regulation of Cr(VI) reduction and the expression of other genes in response to Cr(VI).