TY - JOUR
T1 - Electron transport at the microbe-mineral interface: A synthesis of current research challenges
AU - Richardson, David J.
AU - Fredrickson, James K.
AU - Zachara, John M.
PY - 2012/12
Y1 - 2012/12
N2 - Many bacterial and archaeal species can couple growth to the respiratory reduction or oxidation of insoluble mineral oxides of transition metals. These solid substrates are abundant electron sinks and sources for life on Earth, but, since they are insoluble in water, they cannot enter the bacterial cells. So, to exploit these electron sinks and sources, specific respiratory electron-transfer mechanisms must overcome the physical limitations associated with electron transfer between a microbe and extracellular metal oxides. Recent microbiological, geochemical, biochemical, spectroscopic and structural work is beginning to shed light on the molecular mechanism and impacts of electron transfer at the microbe–mineral interface from a nanometre to kilometre scale. The research field is attracting attention in applied quarters from those with interests in nanowires, microbial fuel cells, bioremediation and microbial cell factories.
AB - Many bacterial and archaeal species can couple growth to the respiratory reduction or oxidation of insoluble mineral oxides of transition metals. These solid substrates are abundant electron sinks and sources for life on Earth, but, since they are insoluble in water, they cannot enter the bacterial cells. So, to exploit these electron sinks and sources, specific respiratory electron-transfer mechanisms must overcome the physical limitations associated with electron transfer between a microbe and extracellular metal oxides. Recent microbiological, geochemical, biochemical, spectroscopic and structural work is beginning to shed light on the molecular mechanism and impacts of electron transfer at the microbe–mineral interface from a nanometre to kilometre scale. The research field is attracting attention in applied quarters from those with interests in nanowires, microbial fuel cells, bioremediation and microbial cell factories.
KW - Bacterium
KW - Electron transfer
KW - Metal
KW - Microbe-mineral interface
KW - Respiration
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84870171892&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1042/bst20120242
DO - 10.1042/bst20120242
M3 - Article
C2 - 23176448
AN - SCOPUS:84870171892
SN - 0300-5127
VL - 40
SP - 1163
EP - 1166
JO - Biochemical Society Transactions
JF - Biochemical Society Transactions
IS - 6
ER -