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

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