Intracellular manganese granules formed by a subsurface bacterium.
The demonstrated ability of prokaryotes to form internal metal oxide particles during active metabolism has been restricted to Fe. Mineral-bound Mn(IV) is a known electron acceptor during dissimilatory metal reduction by Shewanella putrefaciens, yet no internal deposits of Mn have been reported to form during anaerobic respiration. We observed distinct nanometre-sized Mn-rich granules in the cytoplasm when either birnessite or pyrolusite (beta-MnO(2)) served as the electron acceptor during growth. During rapid Mn reduction, additional precipitates of Mn were also observed in the periplasm together with the cytoplasmic granules. The bacteria did not accumulate detectable Mn in the outer membrane during formation of the internal precipitates. This is the first report of an intracellular Mn solid produced by bacteria and coupled anaerobically to DR.
Glasauer
Susan
S
Department of Land Resource Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada. glasauer@uoguelph.ca
Langley
Sean
S
Beveridge
Terry J
TJ
D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008345:Manganese / Q000378:metabolism*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D020614:Shewanella putrefaciens / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012988:Soil Microbiology
D008345:Manganese