Morphological and metabolic responses to starvation by the dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium Shewanella alga BrY.
The response of the dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium Shewanella alga BrY to carbon and nitrogen starvation was examined. Starvation resulted in a gradual decrease in the mean cell volume from 0.48 to 0.2 micron 3 and a dramatic decrease in Fe(III) reductase activity. Growth of starved cultures was initiated with O2, ferric oxyhydroxide, Co(III)-EDTA, or Fe(III)-bearing subsurface materials as the sole electron acceptor. Microbially reduced subsurface materials reduced CrO(4)2-. Starvation of dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria may provide a means of delivering this metabolism to contaminated subsurface environments for in situ bioremediation.
Caccavo
F
F
Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman 59717, USA. frankvc@erc.montana.edu
Ramsing
N B
NB
Costerton
J W
JW
D006092:Gram-Negative Facultatively Anaerobic Rods / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical