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Reduction of Selenite to Elemental Red Selenium by Rhizobium sp. Strain B1

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Abstract

A bacterium that reduces the soluble and toxic selenite anion to insoluble elemental red selenium (Se0) was isolated from a laboratory bioreactor. Biochemical, morphological, and 16S rRNA gene sequence alignment identified the isolate as a Rhizobium sp. that is related to but is genetically divergent from R. radiobacter (syn. Agrobacterium tumefaciens) or R. rubi (syn. A. rubi). The isolate was capable of denitrification and reduced selenite to Se0 under aerobic and denitrifying conditions. It did not reduce selenate and did not use selenite or selenate as terminal e− donors. Native gel electrophoresis revealed two bands, corresponding to molecular weights of ∼100 and ∼45 kDa, that reduced selenite. Tungsten inhibited in vivo selenite reduction, suggesting that a molybdenum-containing protein is involved in selenite reduction. This organism, or its enzymes or DNA, might be useful in bioreactors designed to remove selenite from water.

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Acknowledgments

The author thanks Robin Montenieri and Kimberly LaCroix for their expert technical assistance. Manufacturer and product brand names are given for the reader’s convenience and do not reflect endorsement by the US government. This article was the work of US government employees engaged in official duties and is exempt from copyright.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA–ARS, 2150-D Centre Avenue, Fort Collins, CO, 80526-8119, USA

    William J. Hunter

  2. USDA–ARS, BARC-W, Building 004, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA

    L. David Kuykendall

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  1. William J. Hunter
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  2. L. David Kuykendall
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Correspondence to William J. Hunter.

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Hunter, W.J., Kuykendall, L.D. Reduction of Selenite to Elemental Red Selenium by Rhizobium sp. Strain B1. Curr Microbiol 55, 344–349 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-007-0202-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-007-0202-2

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