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Geobacter Protein Nanowires.

Derek R Lovley¹, David J F Walker¹

¹Department of Microbiology, Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States.

Frontiers in Microbiology

|October 15, 2019

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Geobacter sulfurreducens uses electrically conductive pili (e-pili) for extracellular electron transport. Evidence does not support OmcS filaments being involved in conductivity; in fact, OmcS deletion enhances it.

Keywords:

biomaterials cytochrome electromicrobiology electron transfer pili

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Biophysics
Materials Science

Background:

Electrically conductive protein nanowires in *Geobacter sulfurreducens* are crucial for extracellular electron transport and novel electronic devices.
Electrically conductive pili (e-pili), from PilA, were the primary known nanowires, but OmcS cytochrome filaments are also found.
The role and expression of e-pili versus OmcS filaments in *G. sulfurreducens* require clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and evaluate evidence on the *in vivo* expression and biological function of e-pili and OmcS filaments.
To clarify the distinct roles of e-pili and OmcS in *Geobacter sulfurreducens* electron transport.
To address concerns about OmcS contamination in previous e-pili studies.

Main Methods:

Literature review and analysis of existing studies on *Geobacter sulfurreducens* protein nanowires.
Examination of evidence regarding *in vivo* expression of e-pili and OmcS filaments.
Analysis of conductivity data from wild-type and genetically modified strains, including heterologous expression studies.

Main Results:

*G. sulfurreducens* clearly expresses e-pili essential for long-range electron transport and biofilm conductivity.
No definitive evidence shows wild-type *G. sulfurreducens* expressing long OmcS filaments; OmcS deletion increases biofilm conductivity.
Purification methods removing OmcS yield highly conductive e-pili, and heterologous expression confirms e-pili conductivity independent of OmcS.

Conclusions:

The literature strongly supports e-pili as the primary conductive nanowires in *G. sulfurreducens*, with no evidence for OmcS filament involvement in conductivity.
Previous studies on e-pili are unlikely to have been confounded by OmcS filaments.
Understanding e-pili and OmcS provides a basis for designing protein-based "green" electronics and identifying similar structures in other microbes.