In the News
Genomes to Life
OASCR and GTL
DOE Microbial Cell Project
Human Genome Draft
Genome Perspective
Honor for DeLisi
New NIH Institute
Structural Genomics
Imaging Structures
Synchrotron Use
Proteome Organisation
Breast Cancer Research
Gene Expressions Used
Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear Medicine Labs
Toxicogenomics Center
Kettering Prize
Zeta Phi Beta Conference
Microbial Genomes
Sloan-DOE Fellowships
Ribosomes Illuminated
In Memoriam: Walter Goad

Comparative Genomics
Model Organism Studies
Sushi Delicacy
Arabidopsis Sequence
AAAS Prize
Microbial Conference
Flyer; "Microbe Month"
VISTA Software
Mouse
ORNL Mouse Program
MicroCAT Scanner Used
Draft Sequence Achieved
NCBI Mouse Resources
Human-Mouse Comparisons
MGI Allele Searching

Web, Publications, Resources
Next-Generation Computing
HGMIS Resources
NSF QSB Report
Structural Biology Basics
Minorities and the HGP
HGP Educational Kit
Testing, Counseling Resources
Biotech, ELSI Websites
Biotech Encyclopedia
ASM Report
Nature Yearbook
Next Wave Publication
High-School Curriculum
Education CD-ROMs
Exploring DNA in the Classroom

Funding
US Genome Research Funding
UK Scholarships, PostDocs

Meeting Calendars & Acronyms
Genome and Biotechnology Meetings
Training Courses and Workshops
Acronyms

HGN archives and subscriptions

Human Genome Project Information home

Scientists Decode Genes of Microbe that Thrives in Toxic Metals

Understanding the genetic makeup of microbes that thrive in polluted environments may one day help scientists engineer bacteria to clean contaminants from soil. In a step toward that goal, the DOE Joint Genome Institute has released the draft DNA sequence of the toxin-tolerant Ralstonia metallidurans. Researchers at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), in collaboration with a Belgian team, now are seeking to understand and manipulate the sequence. The research was funded in part by DOE's Microbial Genome Program.

This bacterium was first isolated in Belgium in 1976 from settling-tank sludge that was polluted with high concentrations of heavy metals. Examination revealed that, in addition to its chromosomal genes, Ralstonia has extra genetic material (plasmids) that house genes conferring resistance to the harmful effects of a wide array of heavy metals. Having the draft genome sequence will make manipulation of these naturally existing resistance factors more feasible. Scientists also are working on ways to limit the ability of bacteria to spread genes inadvertently so they will stay in the bacteria where they are put. This can be done by crippling Ralstonia's ability to transfer genes or by using host strains that normally do not transfer genes.

Potential future benefits include transferring Ralstonia's heavy-metal resistance genes to microbes with capabilities for breaking down other pollutants, thereby engineering strains with a combination of useful traits. Another possible application is to link Ralstonia's heavy-metal uptake to genes that cause bacteria to glow, or bioluminesce, when indicating the presence of heavy metals in the soil. The higher the concentration of metals, the brighter the glow.

"What we're doing is building on the diversity of biology," said BNL's John Dunn. "Here's a bacterium that potentially could be used as a tool to help us clean up the environment and to monitor how well we're accomplishing that goal."

The electronic form of the newsletter may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v11n3-4).