Copper mining bacteria: Converting toxic copper ions into a stable single-atom copper
Authors: Bruno Karolski
Hiroki Hashiguchi
Bruna Bacaro Borrego
Debora Frigi Rodrigues
Francisco C Robles Hernandez
Louise Hase Gracioso
Elen Aquino Perpetuo
Claudio Augusto Oller do Nascimento
Janire Pe√±a-Bahamonde
Maria Aparecida Juliano
Journal: Science Advances (2021)
Discipline: Multidisciplinary
Keywords: chemical synthesis; monoatomic metallic copper; environmental extraction; CuSO4 ions; single-atom zero-valent copper
Affiliations: Environmental Research and Education Center, University of S√£o Paulo, CEPEMA-POLI-USP, C√¥nego Dom√™nico Rangoni Rd., 270 km, Cubat√£o-SP, Brazil., The Interunits Graduate Program in Biotechnology, University of S√£o Paulo, Lineu Prestes Ave., 2415. S√£o Paulo-SP, Brazil., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA., Environmental Research and Education Center, University of S√£o Paulo, CEPEMA-POLI-USP, C√¥nego Dom√™nico Rangoni Rd., 270 km, Cubat√£o-SP, Brazil.   ., Institute of Marine Sciences, Federal University of S√£o Paulo, Imar-Unifesp, Carvalho de Mendon√ßa Ave., 144, Santos, S√£o Paulo, Brazil., Chemical Engineering Department, University of S√£o Paulo, POLI-USP. Lineu Prestes Ave., 580, S√£o Paulo-SP, Brazil., JEOL Ltd. 3-1-2 Musashino Akishima, Tokyo, Japan., Department of Biophysics, Federal University of S√£o Paulo, S√£o Paulo, Brazil., Mechanical Engineering Technology, Advanced Manufacturing Institute, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.   ., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.   .

Abstract:  The chemical synthesis of monoatomic metallic copper is unfavorable and requires inert or reductive conditions and the use of toxic reagents. Here, we report the environmental extraction and conversion of CuSO4 ions into single-atom zero-valent copper (Cu0) by a copper-resistant bacterium isolated from a copper mine in Brazil. Furthermore, the biosynthetic mechanism of Cu0 production is proposed via proteomics analysis. This microbial conversion is carried out naturally under aerobic conditions eliminating toxic solvents. One of the most advanced commercially available transmission electron microscopy systems on the market (NeoArm) was used to demonstrate the abundant intracellular synthesis of single-atom zero-valent copper by this bacterium. This finding shows that microbes in acid mine drainages can naturally extract metal ions, such as copper, and transform them into a valuable commodity. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Independent of the content of this paper, there is sufficient credible proof [1], including published by Derek Lowe at AAASu2019 Science [2], and many other sources, to argue that the affiliation (California South University, CSU) of this author u201cAlireza Heidariu201d is fake. The veracity of this author has also been called into question. Fake and or unethical elements such as these are themselves alone u2013 independent of the content of a paper u2013 sufficient grounds for the retraction of papers, whether they be in legitimate or potentially unscholarly journals, such as OMICS journals [e.g., 3], where this paper was published. Can the author offer any argument as to why this paper should not be retracted, offer evidence why sources [1] and [2] are inaccurate, or offer concrete proof that CSU is a valid university? [1] https: groverlab.org hnbfpr 2017-12-10-csu.html [2] https: blogs.sciencemag.org pipeline archives 2018 02 21 down-the-rabbit-hole-with-alireza-heidari [3] https: onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi abs 10.1002 leap.1254 ,