Proteins limit nanoparticle dispersal: sulfate-reducing bacteria

1 of 1 ZnS aggregates (spheres) associated with organic polymers / Moreau et al.. / License

Extracellular proteins of some sulfate-reducing bacteria limit the dispersal of nanoparticles by aggregating them.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Get, store, or distribute resources >
	Capture, absorb, or filter >
	Solid particles

Biomimetic Application Ideas

The mechanism/chemical could be mimicked to prevent dispersion of nanoparticles; remediation of nanoparticles and toxic metals.

> Visit strategy page

[Collapse all sections] Summary

In the waters of a lead-zinc mine in Wisconsin, scientists may have found a solution to how we can clean heavy metals out of subsurface waters. Their findings may also provide clues to how we can mimic nature to clean up other nanoparticles. It was already known that aggregates of sulfate-reducing bacteria (1 and 2 in diagram below) release sulfide, which binds with zinc to sequester it into nanoparticles (3). However, that doesn’t permanently remove them from water because they remain mobile and soluble. The researchers found that proteins and polypeptides released by sulfate-reducing bacteria create spheres of zinc sulfide nanocrystals (4). These spheres are larger aggregates, and have limited ability to disperse and pollute ground and surface water. The key to the clumping was the inclusion of the proteins into pores on the spheres. Cysteine or cysteine-rich polypeptides or proteins cause larger particle size (5).

It is unclear whether the proteins, amino acids, and polypeptides are released into the environment when the bacteria die and are scavenged by hydrophobic zinc sulfide surfaces, or whether the bacteria export them while alive.

Scorpion Impact Illustration
How sulfate-reducing bacteria aggregate nanoparticles. Artist: Emily Harrington. Copyright: All rights reserved. See gallery for details.

Excerpt

Analysis revealed an "intimate association of proteins with spheroidal aggregates of biogenic zinc sulfide nanocrystals, an example of extracellular biomineralization. Experiments involving synthetic zinc sulfide nanoparticles and representative amino acids indicated a driving role for cysteine in rapid nanoparticle aggregation. These findings suggest that microbially derived extracellular proteins can limit the dispersal of nanoparticulate metal-bearing phases, such as the mineral products of bioremediation, that may otherwise be transported away from their source by subsurface fluid flow." (Moreau et al. 2007:1600, 1602)

About the inspiring organism

Bacteria
Bacteria

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: The mechanism/chemical could be mimicked to prevent dispersion of nanoparticles; remediation of nanoparticles and toxic metals.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Bioremediation

Experts

Banfield Group
Jillian Banfield
Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley

References

Moreau JW, Weber PK, Martin MC, Gilbert B, Hutcheon ID, Banfield JF. 2007. Extracellular Proteins Limit the Dispersal of Biogenic Nanoparticles. Science. 316(5831): 1600-1603.

Moreau JW, Webb RI, Banfield JF. 2004. Ultrastructure, aggregation-state, and crystal growth of biogenic nanocrystalline sphalerite and wurtzite. American Mineralogist. 89(7): 950-960.

Labrenz M; Druschel GK; Thomsen-Ebert T; Gilbert B; Welch SA; Kemner KM; Logan GA; Summons RE; De Stasio G; Bond PL; Lai B; Kelly SD; Banfield JF. 2000. Formation of sphalerite (ZnS) deposits in natural biofilms of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Science. 290: 1744-1747.

Proteins limit nanoparticle dispersal: sulfate-reducing bacteria

Content tools

Curator of this page

Comments