Minz, D., Dept. Molec. Microbiol. and Biotech., George S. Wise Fac. of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel
Rosenberg, E., Dept. Molec. Microbiol. and Biotech., George S. Wise Fac. of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel
Ron, E.Z., Dept. Molec. Microbiol. and Biotech., George S. Wise Fac. of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel

A fast and simple methodology was developed that enables screening of microbial strains for their ability to bind cadmium. It is based on the use of a radioisotope of cadmium (109Cd) for screening colonies and for evaluation of cadmium binding. The methods described here can be used to screen new environmental isolates or to obtain mutants with altered ability to bind cadmium. Examples for the two uses are described in the paper.