Role of siderophore-producing and arsenic-resistant bacteria in arsenic-contaminated environment

Abstract:

Arsenic-resistant microorganisms are abundant in surface and near-surface arsenic-contaminated environment, substantially affecting the fate and transport of arsenic in the environment. Siderophores produced by microorganisms under iron-limiting conditions have high affinity for ferric iron and enhance the uptake of iron to the microorganisms. Siderophores help sequester Fe, which is needed to activate AsIII oxidase as Fe is unavailable at physiological pH. Although the principal role of siderophores is to chelate ferric iron, they can also chelate wide array of toxic metals. Inoculation of plants with siderophore-producing bacteria has been found to either promote or reduce heavy metal uptake. Therefore, the siderophore-producing and arsenic-resistant bacteria might have the potential in the remediation of arsenic contamination environment.

Key words:siderophore, arsenic biogeochemical cycle, arsenic remediation, bioremediation