Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Carbon-dioxide Fixation01:28

Carbon-dioxide Fixation

763
Carbon dioxide fixation in prokaryotes enables the assimilation of inorganic carbon into organic molecules, supporting biosynthetic pathways, sustaining ecosystems, and contributing to the global carbon cycle. It also has industrial applications in carbon capture and bioproduct synthesis. Autotrophic organisms rely on this process to utilize CO₂ as a carbon source in diverse environments.The Calvin CycleThe Calvin cycle is the most widespread carbon fixation mechanism, primarily used by...
763
The Calvin Benson Cycle01:46

The Calvin Benson Cycle

6.4K
Ribulose 1,5- bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo) is a critical enzyme that catalyzes carbon dioxide assimilation during photosynthesis. However, it is an inefficient enzyme, having an extremely slow catalytic rate. A typical enzyme can process about a thousand molecules per second; however, RuBisCo fixes only around three-carbon dioxides per second. Photosynthetic cells compensate for this slow rate by synthesizing very high amounts of RuBisCo, making it the most abundant single...
6.4K
C4 Pathway and CAM01:27

C4 Pathway and CAM

49.5K
Most plants use the C3 pathway for carbon fixation. However, some plants, such as sugar cane, corn, and cacti that grow in hot conditions, use alternative pathways to fix carbon and conserve energy loss due to photorespiration. Photorespiration is the process that occurs when the oxygen concentration is high. Under such conditions, the rubisco enzyme in the Calvin cycle binds O2 instead of CO2, which halts photosynthesis and consumes energy.
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
49.5K
The Carbon Cycle01:14

The Carbon Cycle

44.5K
Carbon is the basis of all organic matter on Earth, and is recycled through the ecosystem in two primary processes: one in which carbon is exchanged among living organisms, and one in which carbon is cycled over long periods of time through fossilized organic remains, weathering of rocks, and volcanic activity. Human activities, including increased agricultural practices and the burning of fossil fuels, has greatly affected the balance of the natural carbon cycle.
44.5K
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs01:15

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

970
Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.
970
The Calvin Cycle01:40

The Calvin Cycle

83.8K
OverviewOxygenic photosynthesis plays a central role in the global carbon and oxygen cycles. The carbohydrates produced support nearly all food webs, while the oxygen by‑product enables aerobic life.Light‑dependent and light‑independent reactionsPhotosynthesis occurs in two main stages, each in a different part of the chloroplast: light‑dependent reactions and light‑independent reactions, also called the Calvin‑Benson cycle or simply the Calvin...
83.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Assessing the implementation of crustivoltaics in <i>trans</i> for the restoration of biological crust cover in remote sites.

Applied and environmental microbiology·2026
Same author

Growth and formaldehyde degradation of photoheterotrophic <i>Methylobacterium</i> within radiation fogs.

mBio·2026
Same author

Distinct motors, shared mechanics: unifying principles of microbial gliding.

Journal of bacteriology·2026
Same author

Soil phototroph community resilience comes from down under.

Frontiers in microbiology·2025
Same author

Swift microbiome-mediated phenotype transfer from transgenic plants.

Journal of environmental quality·2025
Same author

Cyanoexosortase B is essential for motility, biofilm formation, and scytonemin production in a filamentous cyanobacterium.

mSphere·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Monitoring Pedogenic Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Due to Weathering of Amended Silicate Minerals in Agricultural Soils.
07:32

Monitoring Pedogenic Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Due to Weathering of Amended Silicate Minerals in Agricultural Soils.

Published on: June 4, 2021

5.8K

Carbon fixation from mineral carbonates.

Brandon S Guida1, Maitrayee Bose2, Ferran Garcia-Pichel3,4

  • 1School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.

Nature Communications
|October 19, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Cyanobacteria can directly use minerals as a carbon source for photosynthesis, especially when dissolved CO2 is scarce. This discovery reveals a significant geomicrobial link with global implications for carbon cycling.

More Related Videos

Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO2 Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses
11:19

Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO2 Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses

Published on: October 21, 2016

12.4K
Two-way Valorization of Blast Furnace Slag: Synthesis of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate and Zeolitic Heavy Metal Adsorbent
11:14

Two-way Valorization of Blast Furnace Slag: Synthesis of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate and Zeolitic Heavy Metal Adsorbent

Published on: February 21, 2017

12.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Monitoring Pedogenic Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Due to Weathering of Amended Silicate Minerals in Agricultural Soils.
07:32

Monitoring Pedogenic Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Due to Weathering of Amended Silicate Minerals in Agricultural Soils.

Published on: June 4, 2021

5.8K
Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO2 Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses
11:19

Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO2 Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses

Published on: October 21, 2016

12.4K
Two-way Valorization of Blast Furnace Slag: Synthesis of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate and Zeolitic Heavy Metal Adsorbent
11:14

Two-way Valorization of Blast Furnace Slag: Synthesis of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate and Zeolitic Heavy Metal Adsorbent

Published on: February 21, 2017

12.9K

Area of Science:

  • Geomicrobiology
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Cyanobacterial Ecology

Background:

  • Photoautotrophs typically utilize dissolved or atmospheric carbon dioxide.
  • Lithospheric carbonate, a vast carbon pool, has not been recognized as a direct autotrophic source.
  • Euendolithic cyanobacteria's mineral excavation mechanism suggests potential direct mineral carbon utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if cyanobacteria can directly assimilate carbon from excavated minerals.
  • To determine the role of mineral-derived carbon in cyanobacterial growth, particularly under limited dissolved CO2.
  • To assess the prevalence and significance of mineral-sourced autotrophy in natural endolithic communities.

Main Methods:

  • Stable isotope analysis to trace carbon sources.
  • Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (NanoSIMS) for high-resolution isotopic imaging.
  • Culturing experiments with Mastigocoleus testarum under varying CO2 conditions.
  • Analysis of natural endolithic communities from marine carbonate outcrops.

Main Results:

  • Mastigocoleus testarum preferentially utilizes carbon from the minerals it excavates for growth, especially when dissolved CO2 is limited.
  • Stable isotope and NanoSIMS data confirm direct assimilation of mineral carbon by the cyanobacterium.
  • Natural endolithic communities in marine carbonates exhibit isotopic signatures indicative of mineral-sourced autotrophy.
  • This process establishes a direct link between mineral carbonate and organic carbon production.

Conclusions:

  • Cyanobacteria can directly derive a significant portion of their carbon from mineral excavation, challenging previous assumptions about carbon sources for autotrophy.
  • Mineral-sourced autotrophy represents a globally relevant geomicrobial process, connecting large lithospheric carbon pools to the biosphere.
  • This biological fixation of solid carbonate may have been a significant process since the mid-Proterozoic, impacting early Earth's carbon cycle.