Electron uptake by iron-oxidizing phototrophic bacteria

A. Bose, E.J. Gardel, C. Vidoudez, E.A. Parra and P.R. Girguis ()
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A. Bose: Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue
E.J. Gardel: Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue
C. Vidoudez: Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue
E.A. Parra: Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue
P.R. Girguis: Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Oxidation–reduction reactions underlie energy generation in nearly all life forms. Although most organisms use soluble oxidants and reductants, some microbes can access solid-phase materials as electron-acceptors or -donors via extracellular electron transfer. Many studies have focused on the reduction of solid-phase oxidants. Far less is known about electron uptake via microbial extracellular electron transfer, and almost nothing is known about the associated mechanisms. Here we show that the iron-oxidizing photoautotroph Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 accepts electrons from a poised electrode, with carbon dioxide as the sole carbon source/electron acceptor. Both electron uptake and ruBisCo form I expression are stimulated by light. Electron uptake also occurs in the dark, uncoupled from photosynthesis. Notably, the pioABC operon, which encodes a protein system essential for photoautotrophic growth by ferrous iron oxidation, influences electron uptake. These data reveal a previously unknown metabolic versatility of photoferrotrophs to use extracellular electron transfer for electron uptake.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4391

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