Marine bacterium sheds light on control of toxic metals
Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 09:50
in Biology & Nature
An ocean-dwelling bacterium has provided fresh insights into how cells protect themselves from the toxic effects of metal ions such as iron and copper. Although essential to life, metal ions can also generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) -- highly reactive molecules that damage cells as they try to form bonds with other molecules. In humans, reactive oxygen species are linked to aging and also to diseases such as cancers.