Enhancing tellurite and selenite bioconversions by overexpressing a methyltransferase from Aromatoleum sp. CIB.

Abstract in brief

• The study focuses on improving the bioremediation of toxic metalloids like tellurite and selenite using the bacterium Aromatoleum sp CIB, which can convert them into less harmful elemental forms, notably producing tellurium and selenium nanoparticles.
• Researchers identified a gene called AzCIB0135 that encodes a methyltransferase enzyme capable of methylating tellurite and selenite, and found that overexpressing this gene accelerates the reduction process and enhances nanoparticle production.
• The findings suggest that genetically boosting the expression of this methyltransferase offers an effective strategy to optimize bacteria for cleaning up metalloid pollution and for producing valuable metallic nanoparticles for various biotechnological applications.]