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Characterization of the copper resistance mechanism and bioremediation potential of an Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain isolated from copper mine sludge

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Abstract

Bioremediation is one of the most effective ways for removal of heavy metals and restoration of contaminated sites. This study investigated the copper (Cu) resistance mechanism and bioremediation potential of an Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain KW3 isolated from sludge of Cu mine. The effect of Cu concentrations on the bacterial growth, biomass, and adsorption capacity, as well as the effect of contact time on the adsorption process was evaluated in a batch biosorption test. The strain exhibited strong tolerance of Cu, and the minimal inhibitory concentration was around 400 mg Cu2+ L−1, at which the maximum adsorption capacity was 14.1 mg g−1 dry cell mass. Cell walls and intracellular soluble components adsorbed 51.2% and 46.6% of Cu2+, respectively, suggesting that the strain not only adsorbed Cu2+ on the surface but also metastasized ions into cells. The adsorption and kinetic data were well fitted with Freundlich isotherm and Pseudo-second-order models, suggesting that cell surface had a high affinity for Cu2+ and the chemisorption could be the main adsorption mechanism. Scanning electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that hydroxyl, carboxylic, amide, sulfate, and phosphate on cell walls might be involved in the biosorption process. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry revealed that some oxidoreductases, in particular Cu resistance protein A (CopA) expression levels, were upregulated. Antioxidant defense and P1B-type ATPases CopA efflux might play a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and intracellular detoxification. To our knowledge, this is the first time that Cu resistance mechanisms, especially intracellular enzymatic mechanisms, were identified in an A. calcoaceticus KW3 strain.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Laboratory Open Fund of Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Mining Area Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation (2017015), and Cooperative Project of Hubei Environmental Remediation and Governance Technological Research Co., ltd (KY2018-180).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Mine Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435003, China

    Wei Kang

  2. Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Mining Area Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435003, China

    Wei Kang, Jin Zheng & Zhen Wang

  3. State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Jianguo Bao & Zhen Wang

  4. Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China

    Yong Zheng & Hang-Wei Hu

  5. Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia

    Ji-Zheng He & Hang-Wei Hu

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  1. Wei Kang
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  2. Jin Zheng
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  3. Jianguo Bao
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Kang, W., Zheng, J., Bao, J. et al. Characterization of the copper resistance mechanism and bioremediation potential of an Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain isolated from copper mine sludge. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 7922–7933 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07303-3

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