Pfeiffer et al. (2012) Nature doi:10.

1038/nature11586
!"#$%&'($: 1o show LhaL fllamenLous bacLerla can LransporL elecLrons
over cenLlmeLer dlsLances.

)$&*+,- +($/('$0: MlcroelecLrodes, Molecular Lechnlques, ALomlc
lorce Mlcroscopy (AlM), LlecLrosLaLlc lorce Mlcroscopy (LlM).

1$-$2/%* '345'%2&'+6-: oLenLlal appllcaLlons ln bloLechnology.
Cpens up a new bacLerlal capaclLy ln energy meLabollsm.
Bacterial Nanowires
llll llke sLrucLures for elecLron LransporL.
Pave been observed ln many meLal reduclng bacLerla.
Cenerally synLheLlzed ln condlLlons of accepLor llmlLaLlon.
Lxamples! #$%&'()$* +,,-. /0$1'2$33' %2$45$2+4+ (also ln
cyanobacLerla and fermenLlng bacLerla)
Gorby et al., (2006) PNAS 103(30): 1135811363
Shewanella oneidensis under oxygen limiting
conditions (electron acceptor)
Gorby et al., (2006) PNAS 103(30): 1135811363
Shewanella oneidensis
O
2
limitation No O
2
limitation
Gorby et al., (2006) PNAS 103(30): 1135811363
Shewanella oneidensis in the presence
of ferrihydrite (reduced to magnetite)
Gorby et al., (2006) PNAS 103(30): 1135811363
Synechocystis PCC 6803
Methanothermobacter
thermoautotrophicus
Pelotomaculum
thermopropionicum
7&+3'% 8+/%$ )'%/+-%+49 :78);
<5$%&/+-&2&'% 8+/%$ )'%/+-%+49 :<8);
Pfeiffer et al. (2012) Nature doi:10.1038/nature11586
10
Study Area
Pfeiffer et al. (2012) Nature doi:10.1038/nature11586
Marine sediment in Aarhus bay (Denmark)

Laboratory experiments

Background: Incubated sediment samples in which no match was found
between electrochemical data and physicochemical gradients andzonation of
potential metabolisms.
H
2
S
Reduction of
oxygen at the
surface of the
sediment
Oxidation of H
2
S at
deep layers in a
completely anoxic
environment
Pic de pH
(consum
d'electrons)
Filaments density:
117 m cm
3

Cell length: 3 m

Filament: 4x10
7

cel/cm
3
Molecular ldenLlflcaLlon of Lhe observed fllamenLs
Deltaproteobacteria
<92% Similarity with any cultured
representative
O
2
H
2
S
1he sedlmenL ls cuL lnLo Lwo pleces
O
2
H
2
S
MlgraLlon of fllamenLs ln Lhe verLlcal axls ls llmlLed
Glass, non-conducting
microspheres
WhaL lf elecLrlc conducLlvlLy ls broken?
Mlcroscopy observaLlons of fllamenLs
=<)
><)
<8)
Mlcroscopy observaLlons of fllamenLs
78)
8acLerlal 3'%/+cables open-up new quesLlons Lo be answered:
Pow ls energy conserved and allocaLed among cells?
WhaL ls Lhelr dlverslLy (geneLlc and meLabollc)?
WhaL ls Lhe molecular basls for elecLron LransporL?
Are Lhey wldespread?

Pfeiffer et al. (2012) Nature doi:10.1038/nature11586