Biomethylation

As biomethylation through are microorganisms performed chemical linkages of one or more methylene groups (-CH ₃ ) with some metals and semimetals , respectively. This conversion (bio-derivatization) creates organometallic compounds . Biomethylations are u. a. found for mercury , arsenic , tin , gold and lead . The substances produced by the methyl element compound can, depending on the degree of methylation, have a higher toxicity towards living beings (plants, animals, humans) than the inorganic compounds of the corresponding element.

Biomethylation was recognized as a potential source of danger at the latest with the appearance of Minamata disease in Japan in the mid-1950s, a mass poisoning of people in Japan caused by methyl mercury from fish.

Individual evidence

↑ H. Woggon, S. Klein (2006): Progress report on methylation reactions with trace elements. In: Food / Food. 27 (1), pp. 21-29. doi : 10.1002 / food.19830270110

^ A. Kudo, R. Turner (1999): Mercury Contamination in Minamata Bay: Historical Overview and Progress towards Recovery. In: Mercury Contaminated Sites: Characterization, Risk Assessment and Remediation. R. Ebinghaus, RR Turner, D. Lacerda, O. Vasiliev, W. Salomons. (Eds.), Springer-Verlag Berlin, New York, 143–158.

literature

Wilhelm P. Neumann (1981): The organic compounds and complexes of germanium, tin and lead. In: Natural Sciences . 68 (7), pp. 354-359. doi : 10.1007 / BF01058024
Wolfgang Beck, Kay Severin (2002): Biometallorganic Chemistry: A Fascinating Research Area. In: Chemistry in Our Time . 36 (6), pp. 356-365. doi : 10.1002 / 1521-3781 (200212) 36: 6 <356 :: AID-CIUZ356> 3.0.CO; 2-F

[1] H. Woggon, S. Klein (2006): Progress report on methylation reactions with trace elements. In: Food / Food. 27 (1), pp. 21-29. doi : 10.1002 / food.19830270110

[2] A. Kudo, R. Turner (1999): Mercury Contamination in Minamata Bay: Historical Overview and Progress towards Recovery. In: Mercury Contaminated Sites: Characterization, Risk Assessment and Remediation. R. Ebinghaus, RR Turner, D. Lacerda, O. Vasiliev, W. Salomons. (Eds.), Springer-Verlag Berlin, New York, 143–158.