A new study from Ume University sheds light on how small sulfur-containing substances called thiols help mercury transform into its more harmful form, methylmercury.
Mercury spread in the climate is a basic issue because of the serious consequences for human wellbeing and the environment. Consuming fish with elevated mercury concentrations, particularly in the form of methylmercury, is the primary source of mercury exposure for humans. The majority of the environment’s methylmercury is produced by specific microorganisms by transforming mercury.
At Ume University’s Department of Chemistry, Mareike Gutensohn has looked into how tiny sulfur-containing substances known as thiols affect this transformation. Since thiols can attach to mercury and influence how easily it is transformed or absorbed by microorganisms, they play a crucial role in the formation of methylmercury. Thiols can be found dissolved in oxygen-free waters or as part of proteins on the surface of cells.
“The formation of thiols and methylmercury is heavily dependent on microorganism metabolic activity. Surprisingly, the content and concentration of the produced thiols have a large influence on the propensity for methylmercury production. This emphasizes the need of monitoring thiol production in the environment.”
Mareike Gutensohn, doctoral student at the Department of Chemistry.
It’s important to keep an eye on the environment.
In her thesis, she looked at how chemical and biological factors combined affect the formation of methylmercury and how it works. According to the findings of the study, increased methylmercury production is caused by the formation of dissolved thiols, which are linked to cell metabolism.
“The arrangement of both thiols and methylmercury intensely relies upon the metabolic action of microorganisms. Interestingly, the likelihood of methylmercury formation is significantly influenced by the composition and concentration of the formed thiols. This underlines the significance of observing the arrangement of thiols inside the climate,” says Mareike Gutensohn, doctoral understudy at the Division of Science.
The exploration likewise gave the principal efficient portrayal of the external and inward cell films of the concentrated microorganism, concerning thiols inside the outer layer of the cells. Mareike Gutensohn used cutting-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy, a potent method for analyzing the interaction between cells and mercury, to accomplish this.
Relationship that is complicated
The characterization revealed variations in the concentration of thiols across the cell membrane, which shed light on the complicated relationship that exists between thiols and the transformation of mercury.
According to Mareike Gutensohn, “while our understanding of thiols’ role in the formation of methylmercury has significantly improved, there is still much to explore, particularly the role and implications of the differences in thiol concentration within the cell surface.”
The complex interaction of chemical and biological factors that influence mercury’s transformation into methylmercury is better understood thanks to this study. This new scientific understanding helps predict and control the formation of methylmercury, making the ecosystem safer and healthier.
More information: Unraveling the importance of thiol compounds on mercury speciation, uptake and transformation by the iron-reducer Geobacter sulfurreducens. umu.diva-portal.org/smash/reco … anguage=sv&pid=diva2%3A1754747&dswid=-6977
