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Related Concept Videos

Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions01:17

Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions

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Methylation is a phase II biotransformation process involving the attachment of a methyl group to a substrate. Enzymes known as methyltransferases orchestrate this reaction.
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...
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Oxymercuration–reduction of alkenes is one of the major reactions converting alkenes to alcohols. It involves the hydration of alkenes with mercuric acetate in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and water, forming an organomercury adduct. This is followed by a demercuration step in which the adduct is reduced to an alcohol using sodium borohydride.
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Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally occurring, and only a few of them are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.
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Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.
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Metal ions can be separated from one another by complexation with organic ligands–the chelating agent– to form uncharged chelates. Here, the chelating agent must contain hydrophobic groups and behave as a weak acid, losing a proton to bind with the metal. Since most organic ligands used in this process are insoluble or undergo oxidation in the aqueous phase, the chelating agent is initially added to the organic phase and extracted into the aqueous phase. The metal-ligand complex is...
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An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
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Photochemical reactions between mercury (Hg) and dissolved organic matter decrease Hg bioavailability and

Hong-Wei Luo1, Xiangping Yin2, Aaron M Jubb2

  • 1Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.

Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|November 13, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Freshly deposited mercury (Hg) is more available for methylation. Photochemical reactions with dissolved organic matter (DOM) decrease mercury bioavailability over time, forming mercury sulfide (HgS) and reducing methylmercury (MeHg) production.

Keywords:
Biogeochemical transformationDissolved organic matterHg-DOM photolysisHgS precipitationMethylmercury

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Aquatic Chemistry
  • Biogeochemistry

Background:

  • Atmospheric mercury (Hg) deposition is a primary source of Hg in aquatic ecosystems.
  • Mercury methylation leads to the accumulation of toxic methylmercury (MeHg) in fish.
  • The mechanism reducing Hg bioavailability over time is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of photochemical reactions between Hg and dissolved organic matter (DOM) on Hg bioavailability.
  • To elucidate the mechanism behind the decreased methylation of aged Hg compared to freshly deposited Hg.
  • To understand the transformation of Hg in surface waters.

Main Methods:

  • Studied the photo-irradiation of Hg-DOM complexes.
  • Quantified the loss of Sn(II)-reducible (reactive) Hg.
  • Measured methylmercury (MeHg) production by the bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA.
  • Analyzed the influence of the Hg to DOM ratio on Hg transformation.

Main Results:

  • Photo-irradiation of Hg-DOM complexes reduced reactive Hg.
  • Up to 80% decrease in MeHg production was observed after photo-irradiation.
  • Loss of reactive Hg accelerated with lower Hg to DOM ratios.
  • Mercury sulfide (HgS) formation is proposed as a key transformation product.

Conclusions:

  • Photochemical reactions between Hg and DOM decrease Hg bioavailability in surface waters.
  • Abiotic photochemical formation of HgS provides a mechanism for reduced Hg methylation over time.
  • Freshly deposited Hg is methylated more readily, but becomes less bioavailable for microbial methylation as it ages.