Bacterial enzymes: The biological role of europium

(Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit ä t M ü nchen) Rare earth elements (REEs) are an indispensable component of the digital technologies that are now an integral part of our everyday life. Yet their biological role has been discovered only recently. A few years ago it became apparent that these metals are essential elements for methano- and methylotrophic bacteria. One representative is the bacterium Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum SolV, which was found in a volcanic mudpot near Naples, Italy, and is known to be strictly dependent on REEs such as lanthanum and cerium for its growth.

Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - June 12, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: news