Microscopic fungi were able to absorb dissolved gold and deposit it as pure metal on the surface of the mycelium.
Found in Australia, fungi can turn gold compounds into pure metal, which coat their surface in glittering nanoparticles. Mike Verrall and his colleagues at the Australian State Scientific and Applied Research Organization (CSIRO) write about this in an article published in the journal Nature Communications.
The microscopic fungi Fusarium oxysporum have been found in mines in western Australia and have shown an extremely unusual ability to utilize gold compounds dissolved in the environment. By releasing highly reactive hydrogen peroxide molecules, they force it to oxidize and, converting into ions, form pure metal complexes. Shiny gold particles dot the surface of the F. oxysporum mycelium.
Fusarium oxysporum cells strewn with gold particles.
Scientists cannot yet say why exactly the mushrooms carry out such a transformation. Nevertheless, it certainly benefits them greatly: observations show that the strains that form the "gold plating" grow faster and grow larger than usual. Perhaps the nanoparticles make it easier to absorb some nutrients or carry out any reactions important for life on metal-rich minerals. This issue is still awaiting resolution.
The find is of particular interest to geologists: it is possible that such poorly studied biological processes have an impact on the formation of gold deposits and its distribution. In addition, it is likely that in the future such microbes will help to conduct more accurate geological prospecting of fossil resources and even create new - biological - technologies for their processing.
Sergey Vasiliev
