ABSTRACT

The biochemical modes of cadmium toxicity and its mechanisms for the development of cadmium resistance in bacterial systems have been briefly emphasized in this chapter. In addition to that, the genetic aspects behind cadmium resistance have also been described in detail. Different proteins like metallothioneins showing the binding capacity of cadmium and other metals are reported. The antagonistic role as well as the synergistic effect of different heavy metals on cadmium is presented. Different bacterial genes related to cadmium resistance such as cadA, cadB, cadC, cadD, and cadX and the sequences of the genes involved are explained in this chapter. The use of cadmium-resistant bacteria as a tool for the bioremediation of cadmium is described along with the mechanism of cadmium bioremediation.