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Title: In Vivo Molecular Insights into Syntrophic Geobacter Aggregates

Journal Article · · Analytical Chemistry
 [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [3];  [4]; ORCiD logo [5]; ORCiD logo [2]
  1. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Yantai (China). Yantai Inst. of Coastal Zone Research; Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Energy and Environment Directorate; Univ. of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (China)
  2. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Energy and Environment Directorate
  3. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
  4. Grand View Univ., Des Moines, IA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
  5. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Yantai (China). Yantai Inst. of Coastal Zone Research

Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) has been considered as a novel and highly efficient strategy in both natural anaerobic environments and artificial microbial fuel cells. A syntrophic model consisting of Geobacter metallireducens and Geobacter sulfurreducens was studied in this work. We conducted in vivo molecular mapping of the outer surface of the syntrophic community as the interface of nutrients and energy exchange. System for Analysis at the Liquid Vacuum Interface combined with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry was employed to capture the molecular distribution of syntrophic Geobacter communities in the living and hydrated state. Principal component analysis with selected peaks revealed that syntrophic Geobacter aggregates were well differentiated from other control samples, including syntrophic planktonic cells, pure cultured planktonic cells, and single population biofilms. Our in vivo imaging indicated that a unique molecular surface was formed. Specifically, aromatic amino acids, phosphatidylethanolamine components, and large water clusters were identified as key components that favored the DIET of syntrophic Geobacter aggregates. Moreover, the molecular changes in depths of the Geobacter aggregates were captured using dynamic depth profiling. Our findings shed new light on the interface components supporting electron transfer in syntrophic communities based on in vivo molecular imaging.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830; 91751112; 41573071
OSTI ID:
1673583
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-151938
Journal Information:
Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 92, Issue 15; ISSN 0003-2700
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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