Synthesis and characterization of 3-[(thiourea)-propyl]-functionalized silica gel and its application in adsorption and catalysis

The objective of this research was the preparation of a silica gel functionalized successively with 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane (SG-PrCl) and thiourea (SG-Pr-THIO), and its application in adsorption and catalysis. The materials were characterized by 13C and 29Si NMR, FTIR, scanning electron micrographs (SEM), analysis of nitrogen and elemental analysis. Aiming at its application in adsorption, the [3-(thiourea)-propyl] silica gel (SG-Pr-THIO) was tested as an adsorbent for transition-metal ions using a batchwise process. The organofunctionalized surface showed the ability to adsorb the metal ions Cd(ii), Cu(ii), Ni(ii), Pb(ii) and Co(ii) from water, ethanol and acetone. The adsorption isotherms were fitted by Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) models. The kinetics of adsorption of metals were performed using three models such as pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and Elovich. The Langmuir and pseudo-first order models were the most appropriate to describe the adsorption and kinetic data, respectively. With the purpose of application in catalysis, the SG-Pr-THIO was reacted with a Mo(ii) organometallic complex, forming the new material SG-Pr-THIO-Mo. Only a few works in the literature have reported this type of reaction, and none dealt with thiourea and Mo(ii) complexes. The new Mo-silica gel organometallic material was tested as catalyst in the epoxidation of cyclooctene and styrene. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.

Solid-phase extraction of metal ions from fuel ethanol with a nanostructured adsorbent

This work describes the synthesis and characterization of a new octakis[3-(2,2'-dipyridylamine)propyl]octasilsesquioxane (T8-Pr-DPA), and a study of the metal ion preconcentration in fuel ethanol. Batch and column experiments were conducted to investigate for the removal of heavy metal ions from fuel ethanol. The results showed that the Langmuir allowed to describe the sorption equilibrium data of the metal ions on T8-Pr-DPA in a satisfactory way. The following maximum adsorption capacities (in mmolg-1) were determined: 3.62 for Fe (III), 3.32 for Cr (III), 2.15 for Cu (II), 1.80 for Co (II), 1.62 for Pb (II), 1.32 for Ni (II) and 0.88 for Zn (II). The thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption process such as free energy of adsorption (δG), enthalpy of adsorption (δH) and entropy of adsorption (δS) were calculated. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the system has favorable enthalpic, Gibbs free energy, and entropic values. The sorption-desorption of the metal ions has made possible the development of a preconcentration and determination method of metal ions at trace level in fuel ethanol. The method of quantitative analysis for Fe, Cu, Ni and Zn in fuel ethanol by Flame AAS was validated. Several parameters have been taken into account and evaluated for the validation of method, namely: linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, and the relative standard deviation and accuracy. The accuracy of the method was assessed by testing analyte recovery in the fuel ethanol samples. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Potencialidades eletroanalíticas de complexos binucleares de nitroprussiato de metais de transição suportado em 3-aminopropil sílica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Síntese, caracterização e estudo termoanalítico dos succinatos de alguns metais de transição bivalentes no estado sólido

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Síntese, caracterização e estudo termoanalítico dos mandelatos de alguns metais de transição bivalentes no estado sólido

Pós-graduação em Química - IQ

Síntese e caracterização de silsesquioxanos organofuncionalizados: aplicações em adsorção, pré-concentração e catálise

Pós-graduação em Ciência dos Materiais - FEIS

Avaliação de substitutos ósseos em defeitos peri-implantares criados em coelhos

Pós-graduação em Odontologia - FOA

Elementspezifische Wechselwirkungen von aquatischen Huminstoffen

Zusammenfassung Es wurden im Rahmen dieser Arbeit elementspezifische Wechselwirkungen von Humin-stoffen (HS) untersucht. Grundlage war hierbei die Kopplung eines ICP-MS mit einer HPLC unter Verwendung der Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC). Durch die Kopplung des empfindlichen und elementspezifischen Massenspektrometers als Detektor mit einer HPLC als chromatographisches Trennverfahren von HS-Spezies konnten Gehalte im natürlichen Konzentrationsbereich und Wechselwirkungen einzelner HS-Fraktionen be-stimmt werden.Zur Gehaltsbestimmung in Echtzeit wurde die online MSIVA (massenspektrometrische Isotopenverdünnungsanalyse) für C angewendet und für die simultane Bestimmung von S und Hg modifiziert. Hierzu wurde ein auf 34S bzw. 201Hg angereicherter Spike verwendet. Mit Hilfe der entwickelten online MSIVA für die simultane Detektion von C, S und Hg konnten Gehalte in chromatographischen Fraktionen mit einer Nachweisgrenze von 3 ng C/s, 0.1 ng S/s und 2 pg Hg/s bestimmt werden.Um die Nachweisstärke und Richtigkeit der Methode zu überprüfen, wurden die C- und S-Gesamtgehalte von HS-Proben bestimmt und mit den elementar-analytischen Daten anderer Arbeitgruppen verglichen. Weiterhin wurde an einer internationalen Laborstudie (IMEP-9) als zertifizierendes Labor teilgenommen. Die in dieser Arbeit erhaltenen Werte für Cr, Pb und U wurden zur Ermittlung der zertifizierten Werte herangezogen und zeigten eine große Übereinstimmung mit den Werten anderer Arbeitgruppen.Nach der Analyse von Gesamtgehalten wurden auch die C- und S-Gehalte in einzelnen Fraktionen von HS nach SEC ermittelt. Hierdurch konnte im Vergleich zur bisher ange-wendeten Elementaranalyse der Gesamtprobe eine Verbesserung bei der Bestimmung des S-Anteils in HS erreicht werden. So ergeben sich Fehler bei der Bestimmung des C/S-Verhältnisses durch anorganisches Sulfat (S-Überbestimmung) sowie durch nieder-molekulare Anteile, die nicht zu den HS gerechnet werden (C-Überbestimmung).Durch die simultane Detektion von Hg konnten die Wechselwirkungen mit HS aufgezeigt werden. Als Bindungsstellen wurden in erster Linie schwefelhaltige Fraktionen identifiziert, wobei S in reduzierter Form (-2) eine weitaus höhere Affinität zu Hg hat. Jedoch konnte auch die Bindung an schwefelfreie Fraktionen nachgewiesen werden. Dies ist für die Untersuchung der Mobilität und Bioverfügbarkeit von Hg in der Umwelt eine wichtige Erkenntnis.Die entwickelte online MSIVA für Schwefel wurde in Zusammenarbeit mit A. Prange und D. Schaumlöffel auf die CE/ICP-MS-Kopplung übertragen. Hierbei musste ein neues Konzept für die Zuführung des isotopenangereicherten Spikes und der Kalibration des Systems entwickelt werden. Mit Hilfe der online MSIVA konnten erstmalig mit CE fraktionierte Metallothioneine aus Leber-Cytosol quantifiziert werden, indem über den S-Gehalt und den Cysteinanteil der Proteingehalt ermittelt wurde.Weiterhin wurde durch Isotopenaustauschversuche erstmalig die kinetische Stabilität von Cr(III)- und Co(III)-Komplexen in mit SEC getrennten Fraktionen nachgewiesen. Analoge Cu(II)- und Co(II)-Komplexe sind hingegen kinetisch labil. Dies ist mit Hilfe der Ligandenfeldstabilisierungsenergie des Übergangszustandes zu er-klären. Bei d3- und d6-Spinsystemen, wie den Cr(III)- und Co(III)-Komplexen, liegt diese Energie deutlich höher als die der d7- und d9-Spinsysteme, wie Cu(II)- und Co(II)-Komplexe. Die höhere Energie-barriere des Übergangzustandes verlangsamt daher die Austausch-geschwin-digkeit, wodurch kinetisch stabile Komplexe entstehen.

Zweikernige 3d-Übergangsmetall-Komplexe mit Derivaten des para-Phenylendiamins als redoxaktive Brückenliganden

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Darstellung zweikerniger Koordinationsverbindungen, bei denen zweiwertige Ionen der 3d-Übergangsmetalle über einen bestimmten Liganden verbrückt sind. Dieser Brückenligand, das N,N,N‘,N‘-Tetrakis-(2-methylpyridyl)-benzol-1,4-diamin (TPBD), besteht aus einem p-Phenylendiamin-Gerüst, an dessen Stickstoffe je zwei Methylpyridin-Gruppen gebunden sind. In diesen zwei jeweils dreizähnigen Bindungstaschen wurden 3d-Übergangsmetallionen komplexiert, wobei deren Koordinationssphäre mit einem zweizähnigen capping-Liganden vom Typ des 1,10-Phenanthrolins und einem einzähnigen dritten Liganden abgesättigt wird. Die strukturellen, magnetischen und elektronischen Eigenschaften der so erhaltenen homometallischen Komplexe mit Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) und Zn(II) wurden untersucht. Dabei wurde besonderes Augenmerk auf die Veränderung dieser Eigenschaften bei dem Einsatz unterschiedlicher capping- und dritter Liganden gerichtet. Die schwach antiferromagnetische Wechselwirkung der metallzentrierten Spins über den Brückenliganden führt dabei stets zu einem diamagnetischen Grundzustand, was diese als mögliche Einzelmolekülmagnete ausschließt. Mit der Oxidierbarkeit des Liganden zu seiner radikalischen Spezies besteht die Möglichkeit, einen zusätzlichen Spin in dem System zu erzeugen, woraus ein Spingrundzustand von ungleich null resultiert. Es zeigte sich, dass die Lebensdauer der radikalischen Spezies eine starke Abhängigkeit sowohl von den eingesetzten Metallionen als auch den weiteren Liganden besitzt. Auch vier Derivate des ursprünglichen Brückenliganden konnten synthetisiert und deren Oxidierbarkeit zu den entsprechenden Radikalformen gezeigt werden. Neben der Darstellung homometallischer Komplexe gelang zudem die Synthese und Strukturaufklärung dreier heterometallischer zweikerniger Komplexe mit Mn(II), Co(II) und Ni(II) als Metallionen. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass diese auch ohne die Oxidation des Brückenliganden bei schwacher antiferromagnetischer Wechselwirkung der Spins einen paramagnetischen Spingrundzustand besitzen.

Exploratory studies on coordination chemistry of a redox-active bridging ligand: synthesis, properties and solid state structures of the complexes

The explorative coordination chemistry of the bridging ligand TTF-PPB is presented. Its strong binding ability to Co(II) and then to Ni(II) or Cu(II) in the presence of hexafluoroacetylacetonate (hfac(-)), forming new mono-and dinuclear complexes 1-3, is described. X-ray crystallographic studies have been conducted in the case of the free ligand TTF-PPB as well as its complexes [Co(TTF-PPB)(hfac)(2)] (1) and [Co(hfac)(2)(mu-TTF-PPB)Ni(hfac)(2)] (2). Each metal ion is bonded to two bidentate hfac-anions through their oxygen atoms and two nitrogen atoms of the PPB moiety with a distorted octahedral coordination geometry. Specifically, nitrogen donor atoms of TTF-PPB adopt a cis-coordination but not in the equatorial plane, which is quite rare. Electronic absorption, photoinduced intraligand charge transfer ((1)ILCT), and electrochemical behaviour of 1-3 have been investigated. UV-Vis spectroscopy shows very strong bands in the UV region consistent with ligand centred pi-pi* transitions and an intense broad band in the visible region corresponding to a spin-allowed pi-pi* (1)ILCT transition. Upon coordination, the (1)ILCT band is bathochromically shifted by 3100, 6100 and 5900 cm(-1) on going from 1 to 3. The electrochemical studies reveal that all of them undergo two reversible oxidation and one reversible reduction processes, ascribed to the successive oxidations of the TTF moiety and the reduction of the PPB unit, respectively.

Diffusion-driven transport in clayrock formations

Clay mineral-rich sedimentary formations are currently under investigation to evaluate their potential use as host formations for installation of deep underground disposal facilities for radioactive waste (e.g. Boom Clay (BE), Opalinus Clay (CH), Callovo-Oxfordian argillite (FR)). The ultimate safety of the corresponding repository concepts depends largely on the capacity of the host formation to limit the flux towards the biosphere of radionuclides (RN) contained in the waste to acceptably low levels. Data for diffusion-driven transfer in these formations shows extreme differences in the measured or modelled behaviour for various radionuclides, e. g. between halogen RN (Cl-36, I-129) and actinides (U-238,U-235, Np-237, Th-232, etc.), which result from major differences between RN of the effects on transport of two phenomena: diffusion and sorption. This paper describes recent research aimed at improving understanding of these two phenomena, focusing on the results of studies carried out during the EC Funmig IP on clayrocks from the above three formations and from the Boda formation (HU). Project results regarding phenomena governing water, cation and anion distribution and mobility in the pore volumes influenced by the negatively-charged surfaces of clay minerals show a convergence of the modelling results for behaviour at the molecular scale and descriptions based on electrical double layer models. Transport models exist which couple ion distribution relative to the clay-solution interface and differentiated diffusive characteristics. These codes are able to reproduce the main trends in behaviour observed experimentally, e.g. D-e(anion) < D-e(HTO) < D-e(cation) and D-e(anion) variations as a function of ionic strength and material density. These trends are also well-explained by models of transport through ideal porous matrices made up of a charged surface material. Experimental validation of these models is good as regards monovalent alkaline cations, in progress for divalent electrostatically-interacting cations (e.g. Sr2+) and still relatively poor for 'strongly sorbing', high K-d cations. Funmig results have clarified understanding of how clayrock mineral composition, and the corresponding organisation of mineral grain assemblages and their associated porosity, can affect mobile solute (anions, HTO) diffusion at different scales (mm to geological formation). In particular, advances made in the capacity to map clayrock mineral grain-porosity organisation at high resolution provide additional elements for understanding diffusion anisotropy and for relating diffusion characteristics measured at different scales. On the other hand, the results of studies focusing on evaluating the potential effects of heterogeneity on mobile species diffusion at the formation scale tend to show that there is a minimal effect when compared to a homogeneous property model. Finally, the results of a natural tracer-based study carried out on the Opalinus Clay formation increase confidence in the use of diffusion parameters measured on laboratory scale samples for predicting diffusion over geological time-space scales. Much effort was placed on improving understanding of coupled sorption-diffusion phenomena for sorbing cations in clayrocks. Results regarding sorption equilibrium in dispersed and compacted materials for weakly to moderately sorbing cations (Sr2+, Cs+, Co2+) tend to show that the same sorption model probably holds in both systems. It was not possible to demonstrate this for highly sorbing elements such as Eu(III) because of the extremely long times needed to reach equilibrium conditions, but there does not seem to be any clear reason why such elements should not have similar behaviour. Diffusion experiments carried out with Sr2+, Cs+ and Eu(III) on all of the clayrocks gave mixed results and tend to show that coupled diffusion-sorption migration is much more complex than expected, leading generally to greater mobility than that predicted by coupling a batch-determined K-d and Ficks law based on the diffusion behaviour of HTO. If the K-d measured on equivalent dispersed systems holds as was shown to be the case for Sr, Cs (and probably Co) for Opalinus Clay, these results indicate that these cations have a D-e value higher than HTO (up to a factor of 10 for Cs+). Results are as yet very limited for very moderate to strongly sorbing species (e.g. Co(II), Eu(III), Cu(II)) because of their very slow transfer characteristics. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Metal-ion-dependent biological properties of a chelator-derived somatostatin analogue for tumour targeting

Somatostatin-based radioligands have been shown to have sensitive imaging properties for neuroendocrine tumours and their metastases. The potential of [(55)Co(dotatoc)] (dotatoc =4,7,10-tricarboxymethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1-ylacetyl-D-Phe-(Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys)-threoninol (disulfide bond)) as a new radiopharmaceutical agent for PET has been evaluated. (57)Co was used as a surrogate of the positron emitter (55)Co and the pharmacokinetics of [(57)Co(dotatoc)] were investigated by using two nude mouse models. The somatostatin receptor subtype (sst1-sst5) affinity profile of [(nat)Co(dotatoc)] on membranes transfected with human somatostatin receptor subtypes was assessed by using autoradiographic methods. These studies revealed that [(57)Co(dotatoc)] is an sst2-specific radiopeptide which presents the highest affinity ever found for the sst2 receptor subtype. The rate of internalisation into the AR4-2J cell line also was the highest found for any somatostatin-based radiopeptide. Biodistribution studies, performed in nude mice bearing an AR4-2J tumour or a transfected HEK-sst2 cell-based tumour, showed high and specific uptake in the tumour and in other sst-receptor-expressing tissues, which reflects the high receptor binding affinity and the high rate of internalisation. The pharmacologic differences between [(57)Co(dotatoc)] and [(67)Ga(dotatoc)] are discussed in terms of the structural parameters found for the chelate models [Co(II)(dota)](2-) and [Ga(III)(dota)](-) whose X-ray structures have been determined. Both chelates show six-fold coordination in pseudo-octahedral arrangements.

Structural Studies of Transition Metal Complexes with 4,5-Bis(2-pyridylmethylsulfanyl)-4‘,5‘-ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalene: Probing Their Potential for the Construction of Multifunctional Molecular Assemblies

Three divalent transition metal complexes of 4,5-bis(2-pyridylmethylsulfanyl)-4‘,5‘-ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalene have been prepared and crystallographically characterized. The isostructural Co(II) and the Ni(II) complexes show octahedral geometries around the metal ions with the coordination sites occupied by the pyridyl nitrogen atoms and the thioether sulfur atoms of the ligand and cis coordination of the halide ions. Cyclic voltammetry reveals that the complexation leads to a small anodic shift in the first oxidation potential of the TTF system.

Functional and expression analysis of the metal-inducible dmeRF system from Rhizobium legumionosarum bv. viciae

A gene encoding a homolog to the cation diffusion facilitator protein DmeF from Cupriavidus metallidurans has been identified in the genome of Rhizobium leguminosarum UPM791. The R. leguminosarum dmeF gene is located downstream of an open reading frame (designated dmeR) encoding a protein homologous to the nickel- and cobalt-responsive transcriptional regulator RcnR from Escherichia coli. Analysis of gene expression showed that the R. leguminosarum dmeRF genes are organized as a transcriptional unit whose expression is strongly induced by nickel and cobalt ions, likely by alleviating the repressor activity of DmeR on dmeRF transcription. An R. leguminosarum dmeRF mutant strain displayed increased sensitivity to Co(II) and Ni(II), whereas no alterations of its resistance to Cd(II), Cu(II), or Zn(II) were observed. A decrease of symbiotic performance was observed when pea plants inoculated with an R. leguminosarum dmeRF deletion mutant strain were grown in the presence of high concentrations of nickel and cobalt. The same mutant induced significantly lower activity levels of NiFe hydrogenase in microaerobic cultures. These results indicate that the R. leguminosarum DmeRF system is a metal-responsive efflux mechanism acting as a key element for metal homeostasis in R. leguminosarum under free-living and symbiotic conditions. The presence of similar dmeRF gene clusters in other Rhizobiaceae suggests that the dmeRF system is a conserved mechanism for metal tolerance in legume endosymbiotic bacteria.

Análisis molecular de sistemas génicos implicados en la homeostasis de níquel y eficiencia simbiótica en Rhizobium leguminosarum

Los suelos ultramáficos, que poseen elevadas concentraciones de níquel, cobalto y cromo de manera natural, son fuente de bacterias resistentes a altas concentraciones de metales. Se realizó la caracterización físico-química de seis suelos ultramáficos del suroeste europeo, seleccionándose un suelo de la región de Gorro, Italia, como el más adecuado para aislar bacterias endosimbióticas resistentes a metales. A partir de plantas-trampa de guisante y lenteja inoculados con suspensiones de ese suelo, se obtuvieron 58 aislados de Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae (Rlv) que fueron clasificados en 13 grupos según análisis de PCR-RAPDs. Se determinó la resistencia a cationes metálicos [Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II)] de una cepa representante de cada grupo, así como la secuencia de los genomas de las cepas que mostraron altos niveles (UPM1137 y UPM1280) y bajos niveles (UPM1131 y UPM1136) de tolerancia a metales. Para identificar mecanismos de resistencia a metales se realizó una mutagénesis al azar en dicha cepa mediante la inserción de un minitransposón. El análisis de 4313 transconjugantes permitió identificar 14 mutantes que mostraron una mayor sensibilidad a Ni(II) que la cepa silvestre. Se determinó el punto de inserción del minitransposón en todos ellos y se analizaron en más detalle dos de los mutantes (D2250 y D4239). En uno de los mutantes (D2250), el gen afectado codifica para una proteína que presenta un 44% de identidad con dmeF (divalent efflux protein) de Cupriavidus metallidurans. Cadena arriba de dmeF se identificó un gen que codifica una proteína con un 39% de identidad con el regulador RcnR de Escherichia coli. Se decidió nombrar a este sistema dmeRF, y se generó un mutante en ambos genes en la cepa Rlv SPF25 (Rlv D15). A partir de experimentos de análisis fenotípico y de regulación se pudo demostrar que el sistema dmeRF tiene un papel relevante en la resistencia a Ni(II) y sobre todo a Co(II) en células en vida libre y en simbiosis con plantas de guisante. Ambos genes forman un operón cuya expresión se induce en respuesta a la presencia de Ni(II) y Co(II). Este sistema se encuentra conservado en distintas especies del género Rhizobium como un mecanismo general de resistencia a níquel y cobalto. Otro de los mutantes identificados (D4239), tiene interrumpido un gen que codifica para un regulador transcripcional de la familia AraC. Aunque inicialmente fue identificado por su sensibilidad a níquel, experimentos posteriores demostraron que su elevada sensibilidad a metales era debida a su sensibilidad al medio TY, y más concretamente a la triptona presente en el medio. En otros medios de cultivo el mutante no está afectado específicamente en su tolerancia a metales. Este mutante presenta un fenotipo simbiótico inusual, siendo inefectivo en guisantes y efectivo en lentejas. Análisis de complementación y de mutagénesis dirigida sugieren que el fenotipo de la mutación podría depender de otros factores distintos del gen portador de la inserción del minitransposón. ABSTRACT Ultramafic soils, having naturally high concentrations of nickel, cobalt and chrome, are potential sources of highly metal-resistant bacteria. A physico-chemical characterization of six ultramafic soils from the European southwest was made. A soil from Gorro, Italy, was chosen as the most appropriated for the isolation of heavy-metal-resistant endosymbiotic bacteria. From pea and lentil trap plants inoculated with soil suspensions, 58 isolates of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae (Rlv) were obtained and classified into 13 groups based on PCR-RAPDs analysis. The resistance to metallic cations [Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II)] was analyzed in a representative strain of each group. From the results obtained in the resistance assays, the Rlv UPM1137 strain was selected to identify metal resistance mechanism. A random mutagenesis was made in UPM1137 by using minitransposon insertion. Analysis of 4313 transconjugants allowed to identify 14 mutants with higher sensitivity to Ni(II) than the wild type strain. The insertion point of the minitransposon was determined in all of them, and two mutants (D2250 and D4239) were studied in more detail. In one of the mutants (D2250), the affected gene encodes a protein with 44% identity in compared with DmeF (divalent efflux protein) from Cupriavidus metallidurans. Upstream R. leguminosarum dmeF, a gene encoding a protein with 39% identity with RcnR regulator from E. coli was identified. This protein was named DmeR. A mutant with both genes in the dmeRF deleted was generated and characterized in Rlv SPF25 (Rlv D15). From phenotypic and regulation analysis it was concluded that the dmeRF system is relevant for Ni(II) and specially Co(II) tolerance in both free living and symbiotic forms of the bacteria. This system is conserved in different Rhizobium species like a general mechanism for nickel and cobalt resistance. Other of the identified mutants (D4239) contains the transposon insert on a gene that encodes for an AraC-like transcriptional regulator. Although initially this mutant was identified for its nickel sensitivity, futher experiments demonstrated that its high metal sensitivity is due to its sensitivity to the TY medium, specifically for the tryptone. In other media the mutant is not affected specifically in their tolerance to metals. This mutant showed an unusual symbiotic phenotype, being ineffective in pea and effective in lentil. Complementation analysis and directed mutagenesis suggest that the mutation phenotype could depend of other factors different from the insertion minitransposon gene.