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Biochemical Model for the Biological Methylation of Mercury suggested from Methylation Studies in vivo with Neurospora crassa

Nature volume 230, pages 452–454 (1971)Cite this article

Abstract

SINCE the discovery of methyl mercury formation in lake sediments contaminated with inorganic or phenyl mercury1, there has been a good deal of speculation about the mechanism of this synthesis. One process involving methyl-cobalamin (a B12-derivative) was demonstrated in cell-free extracts of methanogenic bacteria2. Vitamin B12 is not known to be involved in the metabolism of Neurospora3,4, and so we have investigated the biosynthesis of methyl mercury in this organism, where the pathway should be different.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swedish Water and Air Pollution Research Laboratory, Drottning Kristinas väg, 47 D, S–114 28, Stockholm

    LARS LANDNER

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  1. LARS LANDNER
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LANDNER, L. Biochemical Model for the Biological Methylation of Mercury suggested from Methylation Studies in vivo with Neurospora crassa. Nature 230, 452–454 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/230452a0

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