GLIN==> Genetically Enhanced Algae Used to Recover Toxic Heavy Metals FromLake Erie

["Karen T. Ricker" <ricker.15@osu.edu>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2002

For more information contact:
Dr. Richard Sayre, The Ohio State University
sayre.2@osu.edu
614-292-9030


Genetically Enhanced Algae Used to Recover Toxic Heavy
Metals From Lake Erie

Bio-remediation researchers supported by Ohio Sea Grant funding
are further enhancing genetically altered algae to maximize its ability
to pick up trace metals. Metals such as mercury, cadmium and zinc from
area industry accumulate in Lake Erie sediment and eventually pose a
human health risk. The algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, is a
unicellular algae that is widely available, can be genetically engineered
easily, and grows quickly in high volumes.

Previous research by Ohio State University researcher Richard Sayre found
the algae to be more effective, less costly and safer than using chemical
extraction methods. Now, Sayre and his team have found further ways of
altering the algae to increase the algae's ability to attach itself to
heavy metals in Lake Erie sediment. They used three approaches of genetic
alteration, and found that each enhanced the cell's ability to bind with
the metals.

The most effective method involved attaching metallothionen, a protein
that binds heavy metals, to the outside of the algae cell. It picked up
five times more metal than a regular cell and grew three times faster
when surrounded by high concentrations of heavy metals. Research will
continue to study how much of each trace metal binds to the Chlamydomonas
cell. Sayre will also work with engineering firms to test pilot
facilities for treatment of contaminated wastes and sites. They envisage
using dead, freeze-dried algae in filters to treat contaminated sediments
and discharges that flow into Lake Erie. Significantly, live algae would
not be released into the environment.

"By increasing the algae's ability to attach to trace metals,
we   believe this research will be an important step in the
identification of the best strategies for reducing heavy metal pollution
and the   remediation of contaminated sites and waters of the
Great Lakes,"
said Sayre.


NOTE: Read about Sayre's research on-line in Twine Line, Ohio Sea Grant's
newsletter:

http://www.sg.ohio-state.edu/pdfs/tl-so-01.pdf
(Twine Line, September/October 2001, p. 1)

http://www.sg.ohio-state.edu/publications/economics/tl-0798metal.html
(Twine Line, July/August 1998, p. 3)