Diffusion of H2S from anaerobic thiolated ligand biodegradation rapidly generates bioavailable mercury

Methylmercury is a potent neurotoxin that biomagnifies through food webs and which production depends on anaerobic microbial uptake of inorganic mercury (Hg) species. One outstanding knowledge gap in understanding Hg methylation is the nature of bioavailable Hg species. It has become increasingly obvious that Hg bioavailability is spatially diverse and temporally dynamic but current models are mostly built on single thiolated ligand systems, omitting ligand exchanges and interactions, or the inclusion of dissolved gaseous phases. In this study, we used a whole-cell anaerobic biosensor to determine the role of a mixture of thiolated ligands on Hg bioavailability. Serendipitously, we discovered how the diffusion of trace amounts of exogenous biogenic H₂S, originating from anaerobic microbial ligand degradation, can alter Hg speciation – away from H₂S production site – to form bioavailable species. Regardless of its origins, H₂S stands as a mobile mediator of microbial Hg metabolism, connecting spatially separated microbial communities. At a larger scale, global planetary changes are expected to accelerate the production and mobilization of H₂S and Hg, possibly leading to increased production of the potent neurotoxin; this work provides mechanistic insights into the importance of co-managing biogeochemical cycle disruptions.