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. 2004 Feb;70(2):1234-7.
doi: 10.1128/AEM.70.2.1234-1237.2004.

Electron transfer by Desulfobulbus propionicus to Fe(III) and graphite electrodes

Dawn E Holmes  1 , Daniel R Bond, Derek R Lovley
Affiliations

Electron transfer by Desulfobulbus propionicus to Fe(III) and graphite electrodes

Dawn E Holmes et al. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2004 Feb.

Abstract

Desulfobulbus propionicus was able to grow with Fe(III), the humic acids analog anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS), or a graphite electrode as an electron acceptor. These results provide an explanation for the enrichment of Desulfobulbaceae species on the surface of electrodes harvesting electricity from anaerobic marine sediments and further expand the diversity of microorganisms known to have the ability to use both sulfate and Fe(III) as an electron acceptor.

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Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
(A) Growth of D. propionicus with pyruvate (19.2 mM) as the electron donor and Fe(III)-citrate (50 mM) as the electron acceptor. (B) Growth with Fe(III)-oxide (100 mmol/liter) as the electron acceptor and hydrogen (101 kPa) as electron donor. (C) Growth with Fe(III)-oxide (100 mmol/liter) as electron acceptor and pyruvate (7.15 mM) as the electron donor. The results are the means of triplicate incubations. •, cell number; ○, cell number, control (no donor); ▪, Fe(II) concentration; □, Fe(II) concentration, control (no donor); ▴, pyruvate concentration; ▵, pyruvate concentration, control (no cells).
FIG. 2.
FIG. 2.
(A) Current production by D. propionicus when pyruvate (2.42 mM) was provided as the electron donor, and a poised electrode (+0.52 V in reference to a standard H2 electrode) served as the electron acceptor. (B) Number of electrons available from the incomplete oxidation of pyruvate that were transferred to the electrode surface. The results are the means of triplicate incubations.
FIG. 3.
FIG. 3.
(A) Continued current production when lactate-depleted medium was replaced with fresh medium and lactate (1 mM) at times designated by the arrows. (B) Number of electrons available from the incomplete oxidation of lactate that were transferred to the electrode surface. The results are the means of triplicate incubations.
FIG. 4.
FIG. 4.
Sulfate production by D. propionicus when elemental S0 was provided as the electron donor, and an electrode poised at +0.522 V (in reference to a standard H2 electrode) was the electron acceptor. Sulfate was measured with ion chromatography as previously described (16). The results are the means of triplicate incubations.
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References

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