Title:
Novel pathway for microbial FE(III) reduction: electron shuttling through naturally occurring thiols

Thumbnail Image
Author(s)
Wee, Seng Kew
Authors
Advisor(s)
DiChristina, Thomas J.
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Associated Organization(s)
Organizational Unit
Organizational Unit
Series
Supplementary to
Abstract
The g-proteobacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 reduces a wide range of terminal electron acceptors, including solid Fe(III) oxides. Pathways for Fe(III) oxide reduction by S. oneidensis include non-reductive (organic ligand-promoted) solubilization reactions, and either direct enzymatic, or indirect electron shuttling pathways. Results of the present study expand the spectrum of electron acceptors reduced by S. oneidensis to include the naturally occurring disulfide compounds cystine, oxidized glutathione, dithiodiglycolate, dithoidiproponiate and cystamine. Subsequent electron shuttling experiments demonstrated that S. oneidensis employs the reduced (thiol) form of the disulfide compounds (cysteine, reduced glutathione, mercaptoacetate, mercaptopropionate, and 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoate, cystamine) as electron shuttles to transfer electrons to extracellular Fe(III) oxides. The results of the present study indicate that microbial disulfide reduction may represent an important electron-shuttling pathway for electron transfer to Fe(III) oxides in anaerobic marine and freshwater environments.
Sponsor
Date Issued
2014-02-17
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Dissertation
Rights Statement
Rights URI