An Escherichia coli gene responsive to heavy metals

Using in vivo translational gene fusion in Escherichia coli K-12 we identified a gene that is specifically induced by heavy metals, cadmium, mercury and zinc, at nmolar concentrations. This gene was identified by homology to known zinc and cadmium transporters. We created a disruption of the gene that resulted only in a minor increase in sensitivity to cadmium, suggesting that the fusion, which is at the carboxy-terminal end of the molecule, probably allows for at least partial activity of the protein.