A bacterium that can grow by using arsenic instead of phosphorus
DOI
10.1126/science.1197258
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
6-3-2011
Publication Title
Science
Volume
332
Issue
6034
First Page
1163
Last Page
1166
ISSN
368075
Abstract
Life is mostly composed of the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorus. Although these six elements make up nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids and thus the bulk of living matter, it is theoretically possible that some other elements in the periodic table could serve the same functions. Here, we describe a bacterium, strain GFAJ-1 of the Halomonadaceae, isolated from Mono Lake, California, that is able to substitute arsenic for phosphorus to sustain its growth. Our data show evidence for arsenate in macromolecules that normally contain phosphate, most notably nucleic acids and proteins. Exchange of one of the major bio-elements may have profound evolutionary and geochemical importance.
Open Access
Green Accepted
Repository Citation
Wolfe-Simon, F., Blum, J., Kulp, T., Gordon, G., Hoeft, S., Pett-Ridge, J., Stolz, J., Webb, S., Weber, P., Davies, P., Anbar, A., & Oremland, R. (2011). A bacterium that can grow by using arsenic instead of phosphorus. Science, 332 (6034), 1163-1166. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1197258