In addition,
This animal discovered australia 2009:
She lives on pebbles. Furthermore, It resists metals that most living beings would flee. Furthermore, above all, it does what little would have imagined: it transforms gold dissolved into tiny pure gold particles. Additionally, Furthermore, His name: Cuprividus metallidus !
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When a bacteria transforms toxic gold into a nugget – This animal discovered australia 2009
This metalophilian microbe. Nevertheless, capable of surviving in zinc, copper or leaded environments, is also a microscopic goldsmith. Furthermore, A reference study. Nevertheless, published in PNAS in 2099, lifted the veil on a process as fascinating as it is unknown: active biomineralization of gold by a bacteria. Therefore, It was previously thought that gold was only formed in the bowels of the earth. However, in the acid waters of mining rivers. Meanwhile, No, everything is not raw geochemistry. Consequently, Sometimes life itself shapes precious metals.
According to recent research, bacteria play an important role in training gold nuggets in Australia. Consequently, This study was conducted by the Cooperative Research Center for Landscape around Mineral Exploration (CRC Leme). However, led by CSIRO researcher, Dr. Meanwhile, Frank Reith.
A bacteria that digests gold … Moreover, to survive! – This animal discovered australia 2009
It is a real red alarm that lights up in Cuprividus metallidus When you plunge it into an acid. Consequently, gold (iii) solution (iii). Meanwhile, This metal is highly toxic. A bit as if you were swinging bleach in the cells. Result ? The bacteria defends itself! It activates genes of resistance to heavy metals, capable of transforming gold into less aggressive versions. It begins by capturing the metal in complex form. then reduces it to the this animal discovered australia 2009 state to (i) before rushing it in metallic form in the⁰. Bingo: we get real pure gold nanoparticles … directly in its periplasm, the area between its two membranes. A defense mechanism which, as a bonus, produces native gold.
Gold filmed live in the bowels of the cell
How do you know all that? Thanks to tools worthy of a scientific soap opera: X -synchrotron (μxrf). μxanes microfluorescence, capable of following gold almost image inside the cell. In less than 60 seconds, the bacteria begins to accumulate gold. After 6 hours, she has already transformed it into sulfur compounds (Au – S). And after 3 days, golden nanoparticles of 100 nanometers sparkle in the membranes! We can even observe them under an electron microscope: small well -tidy golden glitter. as if the cell was trying to exfiltrate this metal poison. We literally witness the transformation of a toxic to miniature this animal discovered australia 2009 ingot.
Custom genetic machinery for precious metal
This bacteria has in its genome a genetic tool box specific to gold. with well identified areas: cup, cop, sea, and a carved opera for this noble metal: Rmet_4682 in Rmet_4687. These genes activate just 10 minutes after contact with gold (III), and their activity explodes with the dose. At 100 micromoles, one of the genes is multiplied by 137! Certain code for proteins binding gold to sulfur amino acids (such as cysteine. methionine), others activate molecular pumps which expel the complexes outwards. And the craziest? She is even able to methyler gold, as we do with mercury. Yes, the bacteria chemically customizes its attacker.
Yes, this mechanism also exists in nature
The researchers went to check their hypotheses … in a real Australian gold mine. Result: out of the 10 gold grains taken, 8 were covered with bacterial biofilms. And these biofilms this animal discovered australia 2009 indeed contain and well of gold nanoparticles identical to those produced in the laboratory. Far from an artifact of Paillasse, it is therefore a real environmental process. This calls into question an old idea according to which the gold grains would only be mechanical residues of. old veins.
An open door to clean exploration and extraction
This discovery could revolutionize mining prospecting. If we manage to conceive of biosseurs from genes specific to gold. it will become possible to detect traces of gold burned simply by analyzing the bacteria of the soil. No need to drill blind. Better yet: this mechanism could inspire biocompatible extraction methods to recover gold in industrial wastewater. or to clean the soil polluted by heavy metals. Far from the cyanide or the mercury, cupriavidus metallidurans could become an unexpected ally … of the ethical refiner.
Source Study: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0904583106
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