Small Angle X-Ray and Neutron Scattering Studies of MER Enzymes

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Sponsor: Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Location(s): United States

Description

The bacterial mercury resistance (mer) operon functions in Hg biogeochemistry and bioremediation by converting reactive inorganic [Hg(II)] and organic [RHg(I)] mercurials to relatively inert monoatomic mercury vapor, Hg(0). Its genes regulate expression (MerR, MerD, MerOP), import Hg(II) (MerT, MerP, and MerC), and demethylate (MerB) and reduce (MerA) mercurials.  These Mer -molecules were charaterized using X-Ray and Neutron scattering studies.