Arsenic is a toxic element found in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Scientists have found genes that allow bacteria to remove arsenic from their cytoplasm. Arsenic enters cells as arsenate that must be converted to arsenite to leave cells. Figure 1 provides a summary of the arsenic resistance genes found in the operons of three different bacteria. E. coli R773 is found in environments with low arsenic levels. Herminiimonas arsenicoxydans and Ochrobactrum tritici are both found in arsenic‑rich environments. Researchers claim that bacteria that live in environments heavily contaminated with arsenic are more efficient at processing arsenic into arsenite and removing this toxin from their cells. Justify this claim based on the evidence shown in Figure 1. Both H. arsenicoxydans and O. tritici contain the arsR gene that codes for a repressor that turns on the operon to eliminate arsenite from the cell. Both O. tritici and E. coli contain the arsD gene, which codes for a protein that helps remove arsenite from the cell. There are multiple operons controlling the production of proteins that process and remove arsenite from cells in both H. arsenicoxydans and O. tritici. In contrast, E. coli has only one operon devoted to arsenic removal. Both H. arsenicoxydans and O. tritici. have more arsenic resistance genes than has E. coli.

Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)

11th Edition

ISBN:9780134580999

Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn

Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn

Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1RQ: The correct sequence of levels forming the structural hierarchy is A. (a) organ, organ system,...

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Arsenic is a toxic element found in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Scientists have found genes that allow bacteria to remove arsenic from their cytoplasm. Arsenic enters cells as arsenate that must be converted to arsenite to leave cells. Figure 1 provides a summary of the arsenic resistance genes found in the operons of three different bacteria. E. coli R773 is found in environments with low arsenic levels. Herminiimonas arsenicoxydans and Ochrobactrum tritici are both found in arsenic‑rich environments.

Researchers claim that bacteria that live in environments heavily contaminated with arsenic are more efficient at processing arsenic into arsenite and removing this toxin from their cells. Justify this claim based on the evidence shown in Figure 1.

Both H. arsenicoxydans and O. tritici contain the arsR gene that codes for a repressor that turns on the operon to eliminate arsenite from the cell.

Both O. tritici and E. coli contain the arsD gene, which codes for a protein that helps remove arsenite from the cell.

There are multiple operons controlling the production of proteins that process and remove arsenite from cells in both H. arsenicoxydans and O. tritici. In contrast, E. coli has only one operon devoted to arsenic removal.

Both H. arsenicoxydans and O. tritici. have more arsenic resistance genes than has E. coli.

arsR
arsD
arsA
arsB
arsC
E. coli plasmid R773
Bacteria Found in Arsenic-rich Environments
arsR arsCa, arsB1, arsH
Herminimonas
arsenicoxydans arsR arsCa
arsR arsCa, arsB1 ars Cb, arsH Permease
MSF arsCb, arsH
acr
arsR
arsCa
ars H
arsR1, arsD
arsA
CBS
arsB
Ochrobactrum
tritici arsR2 arsC1
acr3
ars C2, arsH, arsR3
Figure 1. Operons found in three selected bacteria for arsenic removal

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