Uranium complexation and uptake by a green alga in relation to chemical speciation: The importance of the free uranyl ion

Fortin, Claude; Dutels, Laurent; Garnier‐Laplace, Jacqueline

doi:10.1897/03-90

Cited by 73 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…These results also substantiate earlier reports that U biosorption decreases with increasing pH and increasing carbonate/bicarbonate concentration due to the higher degree of complexation of uranyl ion by hydroxides and carbonates (9,18,45). It has also been shown that increasing pH and higher bicarbonate/carbonate concentration exert lower toxicity (46)(47)(48), as in the presence of high carbonate concentration, bioaccumulation of U is reduced in bacteria, consequently leading to increased U tolerance (17,18,49).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Interaction of Uranium with Bacterial Cell Surfaces: Inferences from Phosphatase-Mediated Uranium Precipitation

Kulkarni

Misra

Gupta

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Deinococcus radiodurans and Escherichia coli expressing either PhoN, a periplasmic acid phosphatase, or PhoK, an extracellular alkaline phosphatase, were evaluated for uranium (U) bioprecipitation under two specific geochemical conditions (GCs): (i) a carbonate-deficient condition at near-neutral pH (GC1), and (ii) a carbonate-abundant condition at alkaline pH (GC2). Transmission electron microscopy revealed that recombinant cells expressing PhoN/PhoK formed cell-associated uranyl phosphate precipitate under GC1, whereas the same cells displayed extracellular precipitation under GC2. These results implied that the cell-bound or extracellular location of the precipitate was governed by the uranyl species prevalent at that particular GC, rather than the location of phosphatase. MINTEQ modeling predicted the formation of predominantly positively charged uranium hydroxide ions under GC1 and negatively charged uranyl carbonate-hydroxide complexes under GC2. Both microbes adsorbed 6-to 10-fold more U under GC1 than under GC2, suggesting that higher biosorption of U to the bacterial cell surface under GC1 may lead to cell-associated U precipitation. In contrast, at alkaline pH and in the presence of excess carbonate under GC2, poor biosorption of negatively charged uranyl carbonate complexes on the cell surface might have resulted in extracellular precipitation. The toxicity of U observed under GC1 being higher than that under GC2 could also be attributed to the preferential adsorption of U on cell surfaces under GC1. This work provides a vivid description of the interaction of U complexes with bacterial cells. The findings have implications for the toxicity of various U species and for developing biological aqueous effluent waste treatment strategies. IMPORTANCEThe present study provides illustrative insights into the interaction of uranium (U) complexes with recombinant bacterial cells overexpressing phosphatases. This work demonstrates the effects of aqueous speciation of U on the biosorption of U and the localization pattern of uranyl phosphate precipitated as a result of phosphatase action. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that location of uranyl phosphate (cell associated or extracellular) was primarily influenced by aqueous uranyl species present under the given geochemical conditions. The data would be useful for understanding the toxicity of U under different geochemical conditions. Since cell-associated precipitation of metal facilitates easy downstream processing by simple gravitybased settling down of metal-loaded cells, compared to cumbersome separation techniques, the results from this study are of considerable relevance to effluent treatment using such cells. Bioremediation strategies, such as bioreduction (1-3), biosorption (4-8), bioaccumulation (9, 10), and bioprecipitation (5, 11, 12, 13), have been studied for their potential to immobilize U from solutions. There is also a large body of work on microbial interactions with uranium relevant to environmental in situ bioremediation. The...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Interaction of Uranium with Bacterial Cell Surfaces: Inferences from Phosphatase-Mediated Uranium Precipitation

Kulkarni

Misra

Gupta

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…Unfortunately, many toxicity tests concern organisms at particular life stages and experiment duration may be short relative to total lifespan meaning that our method must be able to extrapolate effects across life stages. An additional complex issue for extrapolation purposes is accounting for the relationship between U speciation and water hardness and pH in combination with toxic effects (Fortin et al, 2004(Fortin et al, , 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of uranium on the metabolism of zebrafish, Danio rerio

et al. 2012

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The increasing demand for nuclear energy results in heightened levels of uranium (U) in aquatic systems which present a potential health hazard to resident organisms. The aim of this study was to mechanistically assess how chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of U perturbs the complex interplay between feeding, growth, maintenance, maturation and reproduction throughout the life-cycle of an individual. To this end we analysed literature-based and original zebrafish toxicity data within a same mass and energy balancing conceptual framework. U was found to increase somatic maintenance leading to inhibition of spawning as well as increase hazard rate and costs for growth during the early life stages. The fish's initial conditions and elimination through reproduction greatly affected toxico-kinetics and effects. We demonstrate that growth and reproduction should be measured on specific individuals since mean values were hardly interpretable. The mean food level differed between experiments, conditions and individuals. This last 'detail' contributed substantially to the observed variability by its combined effect on metabolism, toxic effects and toxico-kinetics. The significance of this work is that we address exactly how these issues are related and derive conclusions which are independent of experimental protocol and coherent with a very large body of literature on zebrafish eco-physiology.

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“…isolate (hereafter referred to as isolate A) cultured from the Cold Test Pit South (CTPS) at the INL. Previous studies have concluded that UO 2þ 2 toxicity and bioaccumulation potential is strongly influenced by complexation and speciation of the UO 2þ 2 [22,23], and, therefore, when possible, differences in toxicity and bioaccumulation patterns were associated with changes in UO 2þ 2 speciation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

UO speciation determines uranium toxicity and bioaccumulation in an environmental Pseudomonas sp. isolate

VanEngelen

Field

Gerlach

et al. 2010

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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In the present study, experiments were performed to investigate how representative cellulosic breakdown products, when serving as growth substrates under aerobic conditions, affect hexavalent uranyl cation (UO(2) (2+)) toxicity and bioaccumulation within a Pseudomonas sp. isolate (designated isolate A). Isolate A taken from the Cold Test Pit South (CTPS) region of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID, USA. The INL houses low-level uranium-contaminated cellulosic material and understanding how this material, and specifically its breakdown products, affect U-bacterial interactions is important for understanding UO(2) (2+) fate and mobility. Toxicity was modeled using a generalized Monod expression. Butyrate, dextrose, ethanol, and lactate served as growth substrates. The potential contribution of bicarbonate species present in high concentrations was also investigated and compared with toxicity and bioaccumulation patterns seen in low-bicarbonate conditions. Isolate A was significantly more sensitive to UO(2) (2+) and accumulated significantly more UO(2) (2+) in low-bicarbonate concentrations. In addition, UO(2) (2+) growth inhibition and bioaccumulation varied depending on the growth substrate. In the presence of high bicarbonate concentrations, sensitivity to UO(2) (2+) inhibition was greatly mitigated, and did not vary between the four substrates tested. The extent of UO(2) (2+) accumulation was also diminished. The observed patterns were related to UO(2) (2+) aqueous complexation, as predicted by MINTEQ (ver. 2.52) (Easton, PA, USA). In the low- bicarbonate medium, the presence of positively charged and unstable UO(2) (2+)-hydroxide complexes explained both the greater sensitivity of isolate A to UO(2) (2+), and the ability of isolate A to accumulate significant amounts of UO(2) (2+). The exclusive presence of negatively charged and stable UO(2) (2+)-carbonate complexes in the high bi-carbonate medium explained the diminished sensitivity of isolate A to UO(2) (2+) toxicity, and limited ability of isolate A to accumulate UO(2) (2+).

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Uranium complexation and uptake by a green alga in relation to chemical speciation: The importance of the free uranyl ion

Cited by 73 publications

References 39 publications

Interaction of Uranium with Bacterial Cell Surfaces: Inferences from Phosphatase-Mediated Uranium Precipitation

Interaction of Uranium with Bacterial Cell Surfaces: Inferences from Phosphatase-Mediated Uranium Precipitation

Effects of uranium on the metabolism of zebrafish, Danio rerio

UO speciation determines uranium toxicity and bioaccumulation in an environmental Pseudomonas sp. isolate

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