Abstract
A variety of bacterial metal and metalloid inclusions have recently been described. These include particles of iron, manganese, cobalt, chromium and selenium. Iron and manganese inclusions may provide a mechanism for the storage of excess electron acceptors. Cobalt- and chromium-containing inclusions appear to function like classical magnetosomes, and may also provide protection against metal and oxygen toxicity. Selenium inclusions may also provide a defense mechanism against selenate and selenite toxicity, and (for at least one species) may represent a storage form of reducible selenium. The production of these particles may have important implications for research in biogeochemical cycling, bioremediation, biotechnology and even in the search for extraterrestrial life.
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Langley, S. (2006). Metal Inclusions in Bacteria. In: Shively, J.M. (eds) Inclusions in Prokaryotes. Microbiology Monographs, vol 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-33774-1_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-33774-1_12
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