Catalytic biomineralization of fluorescent calcite by the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2010 Nov;76(21):7322-7. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01767-10. Epub 2010 Sep 17.

Abstract

The thermophilic Geobacillus bacterium catalyzed the formation of 100-μm hexagonal crystals at 60°C in a hydrogel containing sodium acetate, calcium chloride, and magnesium sulfate. Under fluorescence microscopy, crystals fluoresced upon excitation at 365 ± 5, 480 ± 20, or 545 ± 15 nm. X-ray diffraction indicated that the crystals were magnesium-calcite in calcite-type calcium carbonate.

MeSH terms

  • Calcification, Physiologic*
  • Calcium Carbonate / metabolism*
  • Calcium Chloride / metabolism
  • Catalysis
  • Crystallization
  • Geobacillus / metabolism*
  • Magnesium Sulfate / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Sodium Acetate / metabolism
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Sodium Acetate
  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Calcium Carbonate
  • Calcium Chloride