Determination of zeta potential in Planctomycetes and its application in heavy metals toxicity assessment

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

lage, om (Author) FCUP; bondoso, j (Author) Other; catita, jam (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Archives of Microbiology

Vol. 194

Pages: 847-855

ISSN: 0302-8933

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 22 Citations

Scopus - 23 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-52S

DOI: 10.1007/s00203-012-0818-x

Abstract (EN): Zeta potential of Planctomycetes was evaluated under different environmental conditions and correlated to cell viability. Phylogenetically distinct strains of the Planctomycetes presented different negative zeta potential values. More negative values were associated with Rhodopirellula spp. and related to the great amount of fimbriae in these species. Milli-Q water was chosen as the best dispersion media to perform the measurements. Zeta potential increased with ionic strength and varied with pH. In the physiological range of pH 5.0-9, zeta potential remained low and Rhodopirellula sp. strain LF2 cells were viable. Out of this range, zeta potential increased significantly and viability decreased. The effect on zeta potential of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc was assessed in Rhodopirellula sp. strain LF2. Zeta potential increased with increasing toxicity of the heavy metals in a dose-response way. This result was confirmed by the results observed for Rhodopirellula baltica strain SH1 under copper toxicity. Lead was the most toxic metal and zinc was the least toxic as observed by zeta potential and viability. The results support a correlation between zeta potential and cell viability which seem to indicate the possibility to use it as a viability predictor for the effects of heavy metals toxicity.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9