Localization of the Dissimilatory Arsenate Reductase in Sulfurospirillum Barnesii Strain SeS-3

Problem statement: Sulfurospirillim barnesii strain SeS-3 is one of the recently known bacterial isolates that can obtain energy to support growth by respiring the toxic oxyanions of arsenic and selenium under anaerobic conditions. Approach: The ultimate goal of this investigation is to localize the active sites for the reduction of arsenate arsenite as well as selenate selenite in S. barnesii strain SeS-3. Results: The ability of the type strain Sulfurospirillium barnesii strain SES-3 (ATCC 700032) to reduce selenate and arsenate were tested using cell grown anaerobically with 20 mM lactate as the carbon source and either 10 mM selenate or 5 mM arsenate as the terminal electron acceptors were harvested after the turbidity reached 0.3, 0.4 absorption units at 600 nm, cell density 4gm wet cells. The results of this study showed that the mobilization of the toxic oxyanions of arsenic and selenium by Sulfurospirillum barnesii strain SES-3 is linked to the membrane. The enzyme is specific for the reduction of arsenate, selenate, selenite, nitrite, thiosulfate and phosphate. Whereas, no specificity was detected for arsenite nitrate, fumarate, when they served as the final electron acceptor. Conclusion/Recommendations: This study concluded that the mechanism of arsenate reduction by S.barnesii strain SeS-3 is connected into the membrane. The environmental significance of this bacterium and its impact to the bioremediation potential in the underground water and sedimentary environment is also discussed.