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Electrically Conductive Bacterial Nanowires Produced by Shewanella Oneidensis Strain MR-1 and Other Microorganisms

Journal Article · · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103(30):11358-11363

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 produced electrically conductive pilus-like appendages called bacterial nanowires in direct response to electron-acceptor limitation. Mutants deficient in genes for c-type decaheme cytochromes MtrC and OmcA, and those that lacked a functional Type II secretion pathway displayed nanowires that were poorly conductive. These mutants were also deficient in their ability to reduce hydrous ferric oxide and in their ability to generate current in a microbial fuel cell. Nanowires produced by the oxygenic phototrophic cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC6803 and the thermophilic, fermentative bacterium Pelotomaculum thermopropionicum reveal that electrically conductive appendages are not exclusive to dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria and may, in fact, represent a common bacterial strategy for efficient electron transfer and energy distribution.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
888696
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-45840; 8390; 13994; KP1504010
Journal Information:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103(30):11358-11363, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103(30):11358-11363 Journal Issue: 30 Vol. 103; ISSN PNASA6; ISSN 0027-8424
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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