Tellurium Biochemistry and Microbial Resistance

The biochemical interactions of tellurium in microbial contexts centre on the conversion and detoxification of its oxyanions, principally tellurite (TeO3²–) and tellurate (TeO4²–). These species provoke oxidative stress by generating reactive oxygen species, depleting thiol pools and disrupting vital pathways such as heme biosynthesis. Microorganisms have evolved diverse resistance strategies, including specialised transporters, reductases and methyltransferases, to convert soluble oxyanions into insoluble elemental tellurium or volatile methylated derivatives. Many bacteria also sequester tellurium in nanoscale forms, a process that both mitigates toxicity and offers routes to biofabrication of conductive nanomaterials. Collectively, these mechanisms underpin bioremediation of contaminated sites, inform the design of novel antimicrobials and open sustainable pathways for tellurium-based nanotechnologies.

Research from Nature Portfolio

One seminal study employed directed evolution and biochemical assays to reveal that tellurite toxicity arises largely from interruption of heme biosynthesis, leading to the accumulation of pathway intermediates that catalyse hydroxyl radical formation. Strains selected for resistance displayed mutations that reroute metabolic flux and enhance efflux of toxic intermediates, illuminating targets for adjuvant therapies. A second investigation demonstrated that aerobic actinobacteria can assemble high-quality tellurium nanorods intracellularly. Time-resolved microscopy showed spherical nanoparticles initially form within the cytoplasm and then elongate into single-crystalline rods, with embedded organic layers stabilising the structures. Electrical characterisation confirmed conductivity on a par with chemically synthesised equivalents, underscoring a biomolecular template mechanism for nanomaterial production.

Tellurium Biochemistry and Microbial Resistance publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in tellurium biochemistry and microbial resistance across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Tellurite: A soluble tellurium oxyanion, TeO3²–, which induces oxidative damage in microbial cells.

Elemental tellurium: The zero-valent form (Te⁰) produced by the microbial reduction of tellurite or tellurate.

Methylation: Enzymatic addition of methyl groups to tellurium species, forming volatile or ionic methylated products.

Oxyanion: A negatively charged ion containing oxygen, exemplified by tellurite (TeO3²–) and tellurate (TeO4²–).

Reductase: An enzyme that catalyses the electron-driven conversion of tellurium oxyanions to less toxic states.

References

1. Accumulation of heme biosynthetic intermediates contributes to the antibacterial action of the metalloid tellurite. Nature Communications (2017).
2. Assembly, growth and conductive properties of tellurium nanorods produced by Rhodococcus aetherivorans BCP1. Scientific Reports (2018).
3. Thiopurine S‑methyltransferase- and indolethylamine N‑methyltransferase-mediated formation of methylated tellurium compounds from tellurite. Archives of Toxicology (2024).
4. Assessment of ecotoxicity of tellurium in soils of contrasting properties. Emerging Contaminants (2024).
5. Tellurium: A Rare Element with Influence on Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Biological Systems. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021).