Molecular mechanism of bacterial manganese(Ⅱ) oxidation ? A review

Abstract:

Abstract: Manganese oxides are a type of high-reactive minerals that play an important role in biogeochemical cycling of many major and trace elements. Bacteria are crucial in bio-catalyzing the formation of most naturally occurring Mn minerals. Currently, a variety of bacterial strains isolated from various habitats such as oceans, fresh waters, soils and ores have exhibited the distinctive bio-oxidation activities to convert the soluble Mn(Ⅱ) oxides to the insoluble Mn(Ⅳ) ones. Here we review the research advances regarding the structures and characterization of several classes of bacterial manganese(Ⅱ)-oxidizing genes, their expression regulations, the structures as well as functions of multicopper oxidases they encoded. Some raised mechanistic questions and the future research prospects are also discussed.