title: Energy uncoupling inhibits aerobic granulation.
abstract: Although aerobic granulation has been intensively studied, the possible mechanism of this cell-to-cell self-immobilization phenomenon still remains unclear. Aerobic granulation in the absence and presence of a chemical uncoupler, 3,3',4',5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS), which can dissipate the proton gradient and further disrupt ATP synthesis, was investigated. Upon exposure to TCS, precultivated mature aerobic granules underwent disintegration, indicating that the stability and integrity of aerobic granules would be associated with microbial energy metabolism. It was also shown that the formation of aerobic granules in the presence of TCS was completely inhibited as compared with the control free of TCS. These results, for the first time, reveal that aerobic granulation is energy metabolism dependent, and possible reasons are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D012458:Salicylanilides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014475:Uncoupling Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D012458:Salicylanilides; D014475:Uncoupling Agents; C003390:3,3',4',5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide