title: Bacterial manganese reduction and growth with manganese oxide as the sole electron acceptor.
abstract: Microbes that couple growth to the reduction of manganese could play an important role in the biogeochemistry of certain anaerobic environments. Such a bacterium, Alteromonas putrefaciens MR-1, couples its growth to the reduction of manganese oxides only under anaerobic conditions. The characteristics of this reduction are consistent with a biological, and not an indirect chemical, reduction of manganese, which suggest that this bacterium uses manganic oxide as a terminal electron acceptor. It can also utilize a large number of other compounds as terminal electron acceptors; this versatility could provide a distinct advantage in environments where electron-acceptor concentrations may vary.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nealson