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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Jan DolfingORCiD
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Exocellular electron transfer plays an important role in anaerobic microbial communities that degrade organic matter. Interspecies hydrogen transfer between microorganisms is the driving force for complete biodegradation in methanogenic environments. Many organic compounds are degraded by obligatory syntrophic consortia of proton-reducing acetogenic bacteria and hydrogen-consuming methanogenic archaea. Anaerobic microorganisms that use insoluble electron acceptors for growth, such as iron- and manganese-oxide as well as inert graphite electrodes in microbial fuel cells, also transfer electrons exocellularly. Soluble compounds, like humic substances, quinones, phenazines and riboflavin, can function as exocellular electron mediators enhancing this type of anaerobic respiration. However, direct electron transfer by cell-cell contact is important as well. This review addresses the mechanisms of exocellular electron transfer in anaerobic microbial communities. There are fundamental differences but also similarities between electron transfer to another microorganism or to an insoluble electron acceptor. The physical separation of the electron donor and electron acceptor metabolism allows energy conservation in compounds as methane and hydrogen or as electricity. Furthermore, this separation is essential in the donation or acceptance of electrons in some environmental technological processes, e.g. soil remediation, wastewater purification and corrosion.
Author(s): Stams AJM, de Bok FAM, Plugge CM, van Eekert MHA, Dolfing J, Schraa G
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Environmental Microbiology
Year: 2006
Volume: 8
Issue: 3
Pages: 371-382
Print publication date: 14/02/2006
ISSN (print): 1462-2912
ISSN (electronic): 1462-2920
URL: http://dx.doi.org/1462-2920
DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2006.00989.x
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