Nanobiogeochemistry of Microbe/Mineral Interactions: A Force Microscopy and Bioinformatics Approach
Iron-reducing microorganisms, like Shewanella oneidensis, have received a great deal of attention in the literature because of their ability to couple the oxidation of organic contaminants to the reduction of Fe(III) in minerals. The mechanism by which this microorganism transfers electrons to Fe(III) in a mineral’s structure is unknown. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to measure forces at the interface between an iron oxide mineral and a living cell of S. oneidensis. A unique force-signature was attributed to outer membrane proteins synthesized for the specific purpose of forming a bond with the surface of an iron oxide. To confirm this hypothesis, we used AFM to measure forces between an iron oxide mineral and each of two outer membrane cytochromes purified from S. oneidensis. There is a strong correlation between the whole cell and pure protein force spectra suggesting that these two cytochromes play a prominent role in the terminal electron transfer to Fe(III) in minerals.
- Research Organization:
- The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-04ER15590
- OSTI ID:
- 893095
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/15590-1; TRN: US200719%%843
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
CYTOCHROMES
ELECTRON TRANSFER
ELECTRONS
HYPOTHESIS
IRON OXIDES
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
MEMBRANES
MICROORGANISMS
MICROSCOPY
OXIDATION
PROTEINS
SPECTRA
iron
iron reducing bacteria
Shewanella
hematite
goethite
AFM
force