Mechanisms of Metal Resistance and Homeostasis in Haloarchaea

Figure 1

General mechanisms adapted by bacteria, eukaryotes, and archaea for metal resistance. All the three domains exhibit sorption of metals, volatilization, release of metal chelating compounds in the medium, enhanced efflux, impermeability, decreased uptake, enzymatic detoxification, and intracellular chelation as mechanisms for metal resistance. Organellar compartmentalization is observed only in eukaryotes, with the exception of magnetosomes in magnetotactic bacteria.