In Vivo Synthesis of Diverse Metal Nanoparticles by Recombinant Escherichia coli

A metal-nanoparticle factory: Various metal nanoparticles with tailored optical, electronic, chemical, and magnetic properties were synthesized in vivo in a size-tunable manner in recombinant E. coli (see picture) through interaction with the metal-binding protein metallothionein and the metal-binding peptide phytochelatin, which was synthesized by phytochelatin synthase.