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Abstract
On Earth, the Mn geochemical cycle is becoming increasingly recognized as playing a significant role in the cycling of other elements. Especially reactive are the oxidized Mn species (Mn(III, IV)) in MnO2 minerals which are abundant in the environment. Bacteria are believed to be the main driver in Mn oxidation catalysis so the mechanism of this process is of great scientific interest. The premier Mn oxidizing microbes in the laboratory have been the marine Bacillus species that mineralize Mn on the outside layer of their spores, the exosporium. In this thesis, the expression, purification, and characterization of the active Mn(II, III) oxidase from Bacillus sp. PL- 12 is described. This work facilitates the investigation into the mechanism of Mn mineralization in the environment on the molecular level and the elucidation of unusual bioinorganic chemistry.