Microbial excavation of solid carbonates powered by P-type ATPase-mediated transcellular Ca2+ transport.

ABSTRACT: Some microbes, among them a few species of cyanobacteria, are able to excavate carbonate minerals, from limestone to biogenic carbonates, including coral reefs, in a bioerosive activity that directly links biological and geological parts of the global carbon cycle. The physiological mechanisms that enable such endolithic cyanobacteria to bore, however, remain unknown. In fact, their boring constitutes a geochemical paradox, in that photoautotrophic metabolism will tend to precipitate carbonates, not dissolve them. We developed a stable microbe/mineral boring system based on a cyanobacterial isolate, strain BC008, with which to study the process of microbial excavation directly in the laboratory. Measurements of boring into calcite under different light regimes, and an analysis of photopigm

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Pichel F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3003062 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature