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Related Concept Videos

Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle01:29

Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle

Sulfur is a vital element in Earth's biogeochemical systems. It transitions through various inorganic states, including sulfate (SO₄²⁻), elemental sulfur (S⁰), and sulfide (S²⁻). Abiotic and biological mechanisms across oxic and anoxic environments intricately mediate these transformations. Sulfate, the most oxidized form of sulfur, is predominantly stored in rocks, marine sediments, and oceanic waters, acting as a long-term reservoir in the global sulfur cycle.In oxic environments,...
Sulfur Assimilation01:20

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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...
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Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) is a significant form of material degradation caused by the metabolic activities of microorganisms. This phenomenon poses substantial challenges across various industries, including oil and gas, maritime, and water treatment sectors.MIC occurs when microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and fungi, colonize metal surfaces, forming biofilms that alter the local electrochemical environment. These biofilms can lead to the production of corrosive...
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Anoxygenic photosynthesis is a phototrophic process that captures light energy to drive carbon fixation without producing molecular oxygen. Unlike oxygenic photosynthesis, which utilizes water as an electron donor and releases oxygen, anoxygenic phototrophs use alternative electron donors such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), elemental sulfur (S⁰), or thiosulfate (S₂O₃²⁻). This process is carried out by diverse groups of bacteria, including purple bacteria, green sulfur bacteria, heliobacteria, and...
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Fermentation is a crucial anaerobic metabolic process that enables microbes to derive energy from sugar without relying on oxygen or an electron transport chain. This process is fundamental to various biological and industrial applications and is classified based on the metabolic products generated.Role of Pyruvate in FermentationPyruvate and its derivatives serve as key electron acceptors in fermentative pathways. The oxidation of NADH to regenerate NAD+ is essential for the continuation of...
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Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
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Published on: October 15, 2015

Microbial sulfite respiration.

Jörg Simon1, Peter M H Kroneck

  • 1Department of Biology, Microbial Energy Conversion and Biotechnology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany. simon@bio.tu-darmstadt.de

Advances in Microbial Physiology
|March 14, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microorganisms detoxify toxic sulfite using diverse metabolic pathways, converting it as an electron donor or acceptor in respiration for energy and survival. This ancient process involves various enzymes and electron transport chains.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Sulfite is a reactive and toxic compound to living cells.
  • Microorganisms possess metabolic pathways to convert sulfite, essential for their survival.
  • Sulfite conversion plays a role in detoxification and energy production.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize current knowledge on microbial sulfite metabolism, focusing on sulfite catabolism.
  • To highlight the diversity of sulfite-converting enzymes and their cofactors.
  • To describe the structure and function of enzymes involved in sulfite respiration and detoxification.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on microbial sulfite metabolism.
  • Analysis of enzyme structures and functions involved in sulfite conversion.
  • Examination of respiratory and electron transport chains in sulfite metabolism.

Main Results:

  • Microbial sulfite metabolism involves distinct assimilatory and dissimilatory pathways.
  • Sulfite serves as an electron donor or acceptor in respiratory pathways, driving ATP synthesis.
  • Diverse enzymes with cofactors like siroheme, heme c, and molybdopterin are involved in sulfite conversion.

Conclusions:

  • Microbial sulfite metabolism is crucial for detoxification and energy generation.
  • The modular architecture of electron transport chains in sulfite metabolism is key.
  • Understanding sulfite conversion offers insights into ancient biological processes and microbial adaptation.