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Microbial respiration - a biomineral perspective.

Lucian C Staicu1,2, Julie Cosmidis3, Muammar Mansor4

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This summary is machine-generated.

Microbes transform metals and metalloids like arsenic, iron, sulfur, and selenium into biominerals through anaerobic respiration. These biominerals have diverse functions and potential as biosignatures.

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Area of Science:

  • Geomicrobiology
  • Environmental Science
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Microbial biomineralization is crucial in natural and anthropogenic settings.
  • Microorganisms gain energy through anaerobic respiration using metals and metalloids.
  • This process generates intra- and extracellular biominerals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore microbial biomineralization of arsenic (As), iron (Fe), sulfur (S), and selenium (Se).
  • To investigate the link between these biomineralization processes and microbial respiratory pathways.
  • To review the formation, function, and potential biosignature applications of resulting biominerals.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on microbial respiration and biomineralization.
  • Analysis of biominerals formed from As, Fe, S, and Se transformations.
  • Discussion of the functional roles and biosignature potential of these biominerals.

Main Results:

  • Microbial respiration utilizes Fe(III) and oxyanions of As, S, and Se as electron acceptors, yielding energy.
  • Biomineral formation includes arsenic sulfides, iron (oxyhydr)oxides/sulfides, elemental sulfur (S0), and elemental selenium (Se0).
  • Biominerals serve roles such as storage (S0), density/buoyancy modification (Se0), or appear as by-products with unknown functions.

Conclusions:

  • Microbial biomineralization of As, Fe, S, and Se is a significant biogeochemical process.
  • The functional roles of many biominerals are still under investigation.
  • Biominerals hold potential as biosignatures, warranting further research for fundamental and applied insights.