PYOVERDIN FOR THE EXTRACTION OF HEAVY METALS IN CONTAMINATED ENVIRONMENTS

Abstract

Introduction: Siderophores are low molecular weight peptides with specific activity to chelate ferric ions and other metals. Bacteria, fungi, plants and some mammals have the ability to produce these metabolites, which have been widely studied to understand their mechanism. Within the siderophores there are different groups of metabolites, the pyoverdines are a mixed group that, when chelating iron, there are membrane receptors that capture the pyoverdines again, and it enters the cell with the iron-pyoverdine complex. This mechanism represents a study proposal that allows identifying an interaction of the metabolite with other metals, in order to propose an alternative to remove heavy metals at the environmental level, and in this way, minimize negative effects that may be generated at the level of the environment. human or environmental health. Objective: This project evaluates the production of pyoverdine, in the presence of heavy metals and its interaction with the extract. Methodology and results: Different pyoverdine-producing microorganisms were exposed to different concentrations of cadmium, mercury and lead, to evaluate cell density and relate the pyoverdine production capacity in the presence of metals, taking into account a metal-free medium as a control. From the best pyoverdine-producing microorganism, the pyoverdine extract was obtained to analyze its activity with the metal. Conclusions: Microorganisms tolerate the presence of lead, but not cadmium and mercury, affecting population density. The presence of the metal affects the presence of the siderophore, evidencing a possible interaction; however, more studies are required