Electron Transfer Beyond the Outer Membrane: Putting Electrons to Rest

Annu Rev Microbiol. 2023 Sep 15;77:517-539. doi: 10.1146/annurev-micro-032221-023725.ABSTRACTExtracellular electron transfer (EET) is the physiological process that enables the reduction or oxidation of molecules and minerals beyond the surface of a microbial cell. The first bacteria characterized with this capability were Shewanella and Geobacter, both reported to couple their growth to the reduction of iron or manganese oxide minerals located extracellularly. A key difference between EET and nearly every other respiratory activity on Earth is the need to transfer electrons beyond the cell membrane. The past decade has resolved how well-conserved strategies conduct electrons from the inner membrane to the outer surface. However, recent data suggest a much wider and less well understood collection of mechanisms enabling electron transfer to distant acceptors. This review reflects the current state of knowledge from Shewanella and Geobacter, specifically focusing on transfer across the outer membrane and beyond-an activity that enables reduction of highly variable minerals, electrodes, and even other organisms.PMID:37713456 | DOI:10.1146/annurev-micro-032221-023725
Source: Annual Review of Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Source Type: research