Marine sediments microbes capable of electrode oxidation as a surrogate for lithotrophic insoluble substrate metabolism.

ABSTRACT: Little is known about the importance and/or mechanisms of biological mineral oxidation in sediments, partially due to the difficulties associated with culturing mineral-oxidizing microbes. We demonstrate that electrochemical enrichment is a feasible approach for isolation of microbes capable of gaining electrons from insoluble minerals. To this end we constructed sediment microcosms and incubated electrodes at various controlled redox potentials. Negative current production was observed in incubations and increased as redox potential decreased (tested -50 to -400 mV vs. Ag/AgCl). Electrode-associated biomass responded to the addition of nitrate and ferric iron as terminal electron acceptors in secondary sediment-free enrichments. Elemental sulfur, elemental iron and amorphous iron sulfide

SUBMITTER: Rowe AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4294203 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature