Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1
10:07

Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1

Published on: October 17, 2018

Molybdate treatment and sulfate starvation decrease ATP and DNA levels in Ferroplasma acidarmanu

David J Baumler1, Kai-Foong Hung, Kwang Cheol Jeong

  • 1Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Archaea (Vancouver, B.C.)
|December 5, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Sulfate is essential for Ferroplasma acidarmanus growth, supporting DNA integrity and ATP production. Its absence or the presence of molybdate severely impacts cell viability and biomolecules in this acidophile.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Sulfate is a crucial sulfur source for microbes, acting as an electron acceptor in some prokaryotes.
  • The acidophile Ferroplasma acidarmanus requires high sulfate concentrations (≥150 mM) for growth.
  • Sulfate assimilation in F. acidarmanus produces proteins and volatile organic sulfur compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of sulfate deprivation and molybdate presence on F. acidarmanus viability.
  • To monitor changes in genomic DNA and ATP content as indicators of cell health.
  • To understand the role of sulfate in maintaining cellular integrity in F. acidarmanus.

Main Methods:

  • Monitoring cell viability, genomic DNA, and ATP content in F. acidarmanus cultures.
  • Comparing responses to sulfate absence versus the presence of sulfate analog molybdate (MoO(4) (2-)).
  • Quantifying reductions in cell numbers, DNA, and ATP over specific time periods.

Main Results:

  • Sulfate absence caused a >7 log(10) decrease in viable cells, >99% DNA reduction (3 days), and >60% ATP decrease (6 hours).
  • Molybdate exposure led to >2 log(10) viability loss (5 days), >60% DNA reduction (2 days), and >70% ATP decrease (2 hours).
  • Both sulfate deprivation and molybdate presence similarly affected cell viability and essential biomolecules.

Conclusions:

  • Sulfate is critical for maintaining ATP content and DNA integrity in F. acidarmanus.
  • Sulfate deprivation and molybdate exposure induce comparable detrimental effects on cell viability.
  • Findings may extend to other acidophiles thriving in sulfate-rich environments.

More Related Videos

Quantifying Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Type III Secretion System Activity Following Iron Starvation and Anaerobic Growth08:36

Quantifying Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Type III Secretion System Activity Following Iron Starvation and Anaerobic Growth

Published on: May 31, 2024

Revealing the Ferroptotic Phenotype of Medulloblastoma04:01

Revealing the Ferroptotic Phenotype of Medulloblastoma

Published on: March 15, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles01:24

Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles

Microbial activity plays a pivotal role in the biogeochemical cycling of iron and manganese, especially at the redox gradients characteristic of stratified aquatic environments. These cycles are driven by microbial transformations between oxidized and reduced forms of the metals, allowing organisms to exploit them for metabolic energy and structural purposes.Iron Cycling Across Redox GradientsIn neutral, oxygen-rich surface waters, iron is predominantly found in its oxidized, insoluble ferric...
Microbial Nutrition01:28

Microbial Nutrition

Organisms exhibit remarkable metabolic diversity, categorized based on how they acquire energy and carbon. These strategies enable survival in various ecological niches and are essential for maintaining energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.Energy and Carbon SourcesOrganisms are classified as phototrophs or chemotrophs based on energy acquisition. Phototrophs use light as their energy source, while chemotrophs rely on oxidizing chemical compounds. Further differentiation arises...
Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes01:24

Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes

The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
Acid Mine Drainage01:19

Acid Mine Drainage

Mining activities that disturb sulfide-rich rocks, particularly those containing pyrite (FeS₂), initiate a cascade of geochemical and microbiological processes with serious environmental implications. When exposed to air and water, pyrite undergoes oxidation, releasing sulfate, ultimately forming sulfuric acid and mobilizing heavy metals into surrounding water systems. This phenomenon, known as acid mine drainage (AMD), results in low pH waters laden with toxic elements that threaten aquatic...
Sulfur Assimilation01:20

Sulfur Assimilation

Sulfur is an essential element in biological systems, contributing to synthesizing key biomolecules, including amino acids such as cysteine and methionine, and cofactors such as coenzyme A and biotin. Microorganisms primarily assimilate sulfur as sulfate (SO₄²⁻) from the environment, which must undergo a series of biochemical transformations before it can be incorporated into cellular components. As sulfate is highly oxidized, it must undergo assimilatory sulfate reduction to become...
Diversity of Archaea IV01:29

Diversity of Archaea IV

Hyperthermophilic archaea are a group of extremophiles thriving at temperatures above 80°C, often in hydrothermal vents and volcanic soils where conditions surpass the boiling point of water. At such temperatures, proteins, membranes, and DNA in most organisms degrade, but hyperthermophiles have evolved remarkable adaptations to maintain stability and function.Unique Cellular FeaturesHyperthermophilic membranes are composed of a monolayer of biphytanyl tetraether lipids, which resist thermal...