Resistance mechanisms, arsenic

V. GENES ASSOCIATED WITH ARSENIC RESISTANCE MECHANISM... 

In microbes without a permeability barrier, or when the barrier fails, a mechanism must be in place to export metals from the cytoplasm. These active transport systems involve energy-dependent, membrane-bound efflux pumps that can be encoded by either chromosomal- or plasmid-borne genes. Active transport is the most well-studied metal resistance mechanism. Some of these include the ars operon for exporting arsenic from E. coli, the cad system for exporting cadmium from Staphylococcus aureus, and the cop operon for removing excess copper from Enterococcus hiraeP i9A0... 

Starting in 1908 in the orchards of the Pacific northwest, the cases of resistance before World War II and the era of the synthetic organics involved the HCN used against scale insects on citrus, the arsenicals used against orchard caterpillars and cattle ticks, and tartar emetic applied against the tiny insect pests called thrips as now, many instances originated in California (Table I). The resistance mechanisms were investigated in two of... 

FIGURE 72.2. Arsenic detoxification mechanisms (reduction, oxidation, methylation, and resistance) in prokaryotes. (A) Respiratory arsenate reductase (Arr) is involved in the reduction of As(V) by the dissimilatory arsenate respiring organisms. (B) Arsenite oxidase (Aox/Aso) is responsible for oxidation of As(III) by chemoautotrophic or heterotrophic arsenite oxidizers. 

Sharpies, J.M., Meharg, A.A., Chambers, S.M., Caimey, J.W.G., 2000. Mechanism of arsenate resistance in the ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Hymenoscyphus ericae. Plaut Physiol. 124, 1327-1334. 

Rea.ctivity ofLea.d—Ca.lcium Alloys. Precise control of the calcium content is required to control the grain stmcture, corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties of lead—calcium alloys. Calcium reacts readily with air and other elements such as antimony, arsenic, and sulfur to produce oxides or intermetaUic compounds (see Calciumand calciumalloys). In these reactions, calcium is lost and suspended soHds reduce fluidity and castibiUty. The very thin grids that are required for automotive batteries are difficult to cast from lead—calcium alloys. 

Lead—tin (1.8—2.5 wt %) is used both as a cable sheathing ahoy (BS 801 ahoy A and DIN 17640) and as a battery connector ahoy ia sealed lead—calcium—tin batteries (15). Tia is generahy added to lead—arsenic cable ahoys ia smah amounts. The arsenic ahoys have excehent creep resistance and mechanical properties, but are unstable and lose arsenic readily by oxidation. The addition of smah amounts of tin (0.10—0.20 wt %) eliminates arsenic loss. Lead ahoys having 0.4 wt % tin and 0.15 % cadmium, which are used for cable sheathing, do not age harden, show excehent corrosion and creep resistance, and are very ductile. 

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