24/7 Space News
EXO WORLDS
Bacteria survive on radioactive elements
Methylotrophic bacteria utilize actinides instead of lanthanides to sustain their metabolism: Studies with two bacterial lanthanide-using strains demonstrate that the trivalent radioactive elements americium and curium can support growth. Also, catalytic activity of the lanthanide-dependent methanol dehydrogenases with actinides is shown. For the first time it is established that actinides can play a beneficial role in biological metabolism.
Reuters Events SMR and Advanced Reactor 2025
Bacteria survive on radioactive elements
by Staff Writers
Munich, Germany (SPX) May 12, 2023

Bacteria that feed on methanol are able to grow on certain rare earth elements as well as their radioactive relatives. These findings suggest a possible role for such bacteria in the decontamination of areas where actinides are spilled, or in the separation of lanthanides and actinides for analytical or preparative purposes, according to a study published in the journal Angewandte Chemie.

Lanthanides belong to the rare earth elements widely used in electronics and energy technologies. With one exception, they are not radioactive, they are abundant in the earth's crust, and some lanthanides such as lanthanum and neodymium even play a crucial role in bacterial metabolism. Actinides, which include uranium and plutonium, are their heavy, radioactive counterparts, most of which are not found naturally on earth. Now, Lena Daumann from Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany, and her international interdisciplinary team have discovered that some actinides can replace essential lanthanides in the metabolism of methylotrophic bacteria.

Methylotrophic bacteria, so-called as they use methanol as their energy source, contain lanthanides in their methanol-oxidizing enzyme. The researchers observed that these bacteria could also take up actinide ions into this enzyme, using them for methanol metabolism in the same way as they would use lanthanides. This observation was particularly valid when the actinide ions were the same size and had the same stable +III oxidation states as the corresponding lanthanides. The bacteria even preferred americium and curium as actinides over some lanthanides when presented with a mixture of lanthanides and actinides, the researchers reported.

Americium and curium showed a stable +III oxidation state, which appeared to be particularly important. "When we used plutonium, which is known to have higher oxidation states, our bacteria did not grow, nor did the isolated enzymes work with it either," Daumann says. This knowledge will be useful for future applications. The team plans to explore the ability of the bacteria to extract actinides from radioactive waste or to separate out specific elements from mixtures.

Actinides such as plutonium, americium, and curium can be generated in nuclear reactors and are used in research, the nuclear industry, and many other technologies. Americium is even a source of ionizing radiation in commercial smoke detectors. However, actinides are highly radioactive and hazardous elements, which have to be handled with great care at special facilities. Spillages of radioactive substances are always of great concern. Dauman proposes "putting these bacteria to use to help clean up radioactive spills," as a possible future application.

Research Report:Minor Actinides Can Replace Essential Lanthanides in Bacterial Life

Related Links
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Lands Beyond Beyond - extra solar planets - news and science
Life Beyond Earth

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
EXO WORLDS
Invading insect could transform Antarctic soils
Birmingham UK (SPX) May 11, 2023
A tiny flightless midge which has colonised Antarctica's Signy Island is driving fundamental changes to the island's soil ecosystem, a study shows. Research by experts at the University of Birmingham in collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey has revealed that a non-native midge species is significantly increasing rates of plant decomposition, resulting in three to five-fold increases in soil nitrate levels compared to sites where only native invertebrates occur. The paper, published ... read more

EXO WORLDS
Cosmonauts wrap up 5-hour ISS spacewalk

SpaceX set to launch Vast's commercial space station and inaugural human spaceflight mission

NASA launches SBIR Ignite Catalyst Program for founders and entrepreneurs

Virgin to launch commercial spaceflights in June

EXO WORLDS
Virgin Orbit receives more than 30 indications of interest under court approved bid procedures

Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site can launch new-generation rockets

For 191st time, SpaceX booster successfully returns after launch

Momentus signs launch package with SpaceX

EXO WORLDS
These sounds are out of this world

Chasms on the flanks of a Martian volcano

Another beautiful hole on Mars: Sols 3825-3826

Perseverance images may show record of wild Martian river

EXO WORLDS
China's cargo craft Tianzhou 6 ready for launch

"Tianzhou Express" is online again, with five highlights

Tianzhou 6 docks with Tiangong space station

Tianzhou-5 cargo craft separates from China's space station

EXO WORLDS
SpaceX launches 51 Starlink satellites from California

Sidus Space selected by OneWeb to manufacture satellite hardware

Sidus Space expands global ground site network with new ATLAS contract

Lockheed Martin Space announces changes designed to enhance speed and effectiveness

EXO WORLDS
Great balls of fire! 'Rocket debris' lights up Japan night

Arianespace to launch the first active debris removal ClearSpace mission with Vega C

Juice's RIME antenna breaks free

Terran Orbital PTD-3 enables 200Gbits space-to-ground optical link

EXO WORLDS
Researchers measure the light emitted by a sub-Neptune planet's atmosphere for the first time

Bacteria survive on radioactive elements

Webb takes closest look yet at mysterious planet

Astronomers spot benzene in planet-forming disk around star for first time

EXO WORLDS
Pioneer 11, launched 50 years ago, helped solve mysteries of the universe

NASA: Up to 4 of Uranus' moons could have water

New video series captures team working on NASA's Europa Clipper

Work continues to deploy Juice RIME antenna

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.