Publikationsrepositorium - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

Summary. We used a combination of Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis to conduct molecular scale studies on U(VI) interaction with three recently described eco-types of A. ferrooxidans. On the basis of the information obtained by using these methods, we conclude that uranyl phosphate complexes were formed by the cells of the three eco-types studied. The uranium accumulated by A. ferrooxidans cells was located mainly within the extracellular polysaccharides and on the cell wall. We suggest that at toxic levels when uranium enters the bacterial cells A. ferrooxidans can detoxify and efflux this metal by a process in which its polyphosphate bodies are involved.