Bioavailability of molybdenite to support nitrogen fixation on early Earth by an anoxygenic phototroph

Zhou, Xinyi; Sheng, Yizhi; Zheng, Yanning; Jiang, Mingyue; Wang, Mengmei; Zhu, Zihua; Li, Gaoyuan; Baars, Oliver; Dong, Hailiang

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2024.119056

Bioavailability of molybdenite to support nitrogen fixation on early Earth by an anoxygenic phototroph

Journal Article · Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Earth and Planetary Science Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2024.119056· OSTI ID:2522640

Zhou, Xinyi ^[1]; ^[1]; Zheng, Yanning ^[2]; Jiang, Mingyue ^[2]; Wang, Mengmei ^[3]; ^[4]; Li, Gaoyuan ^[1]; Baars, Oliver ^[5]; Dong, Hailiang ^[1]

China University of Geosciences (CUGB), Beijing (China)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing (China)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing (China); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (China)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (United States)

Biological nitrogen fixation, which converts atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonia, is catalyzed mostly by Mo-nitrogenase and is a primary contributor to bioavailable nitrogen on early Earth. Mo-nitrogenase is believed to have evolved during the Archean, despite the extremely low concentration of dissolved Mo. However, it remains unclear whether Mo minerals could serve as a source of Mo to support the prevalence of Mo-nitrogenase on early Earth. Here, in this study, we investigated the bioavailability of molybdenite by incubating it with a metabolically ancient anoxygenic phototroph (Rhodopseudomonas palustris) under anoxic conditions. In the laboratory, R. palustris utilized molybdenum from molybdenite as a cofactor for nitrogen fixation. This bacterium extracted Mo from molybdenite by secreting molybdophores rhodopetrobactin A and B and by expressing Mo transport proteins. Surface-sensitive techniques demonstrated significant changes in surface chemistry of molybdenite after its interaction with cells. These findings provide novel explanations for the prevalence of Mo-nitrogenase on early Earth, with significant implications for nitrogen fixation in modern Mo-deficient environments.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2522640

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--204326

Journal Information:: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Journal Name: Earth and Planetary Science Letters Vol. 647; ISSN 0012-821X

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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