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Efficient long-range conduction in cable bacteria through nickel protein wires.

Henricus T S Boschker1,2, Perran L M Cook3, Lubos Polerecky4

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biophysics
  • Electrochemistry

Background:

  • Filamentous cable bacteria are known for long-range electron transport.
  • They generate electrical currents via a network of cell envelope fibers.
  • The conductivity is high for biological material, but structure and mechanism are unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the chemical structure and electron transport mechanism of cable bacterium conductive fibers.
  • To investigate the role of specific components in their high conductivity.

Main Methods:

  • High-resolution microscopy
  • Spectroscopy
  • Chemical imaging on individual cable bacterium filaments

Main Results:

  • Periplasmic wires comprise a conductive protein core and an insulating protein shell.
  • The core contains a sulfur-ligated nickel cofactor.
  • Conductivity diminishes upon nickel oxidation or removal.

Conclusions:

  • Nickel is the active metal driving biological conduction in cable bacteria.
  • This suggests a novel electron transport mechanism for efficient conduction in centimeter-long protein structures.