Nanowires, Capacitors, and Other Novel Outer-Surface Components Involved in Electron Transfer to Fe(III) Oxides in Geobacter Species

Technical Report · Mon Dec 22 04:00:00 EST 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/944620· OSTI ID:944620

The overall goal of this project was to better understand the mechanisms by which Geobacter species transfer electrons outside the cell onto Fe(III) oxides. The rationale for this study was that Geobacter species are often the predominant microorganisms involved in in situ uranium bioremediation and the growth and activity of the Geobacter species during bioremediation is primarily supported by electron transfer to Fe(III) oxides. These studies greatly expanded the understanding of electron transfer to Fe(III). Novel concepts developed included the potential role of microbial nanowires for long range electron transfer in Geobacter species and the importance of extracytoplasmic cytochromes functioning as capacitors to permit continued electron transfer during the hunt for Fe(III) oxide. Furthermore, these studies provided target sequences that were then used in other studies to tract the activity of Geobacter species in the subsurface through monitoring the abundance of gene transcripts of the target genes. A brief summary of the major accomplishments of the project is provided.

• Research Organization: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-02ER63423
• OSTI ID: 944620
• Report Number(s): DOE/FG/63423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABUNDANCE
BIOREMEDIATION
CAPACITORS
CYTOCHROMES
ELECTRON TRANSFER
ELECTRONS
Electron transfer
Geobacter
GENES
IRON OXIDES
MICROORGANISMS
MONITORING
OXIDES
TARGETS
URANIUM