Bacterial cell walls - Promoters and inhibitors of mineral nucleation


Bacterial cell walls - Promoters and inhibitors of mineral nucleation

Behrends, T.; Scheinost, A.; Shaw, S.; Benning, L.; van Cappellen, P.

Formation of minerals at the Earth’s surface can often be directly or indirectly assigned to the activity of microorganisms. Regarding a direct effect, several examples of microbially controlled, extracellular precipitation of minerals have been reported, which typically involve the enrichment of metal ions at the bacterial surface. However, sorption of metal ions to microbial cell walls might also inhibit mineral formation. Here, we present two examples in which interactions between metal ions and bacterial cell walls interfere with the formation of mineral although a promoting effect could be anticipated: the formation of UO2 as a consequence of microbial U reduction and the formation of Mn oxides in the presence of a Mn oxidizing organism. Microbial reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) is expected to result in the precipitation of solid UO2 at neutral pH.
However, EXAFS analyses of samples from incubation experiments with the organism Shewanella putrefaciens revealed that enzymatic reduction of U(VI) did not instantaneously lead to the formation of an UO2 precipitate but that U(IV) was monomerically associated with the bacterial cells. Indications were obtained that U(IV) in this form is very susceptible for reoxidation.
The kinetics of Mn(II) oxidation with and without the organism Pseudomonas putida were studied at pH 7.5 and 8.5.
The rates of Mn2+(aq) consumption in the presence of bacteria were similar at both pH values although the rates of abiotic Mn oxidation, determined in the absence of bacteria, were higher at pH 8.5. XANES analyses showed that the removal of Mn(II) from solution by the bacteria at pH 8.5 was, in contrast to pH 7.5, not caused by Mn oxidation. Consequently, not only enzymatic Mn(II) oxidation but also the abiotic oxidation were inhibited at pH 8.5 in the presence of bacteria. Possible mechanisms for the removal of dissolved Mn(II) by the bacteria and the inhibition of the abiotic oxidation at pH 8.5 will be discussed.

Keywords: Uranium; EXAFS; Redox; Shewanella; Mn oxides

  • Lecture (Conference)
    Goldschmidt 2008, 13.-18.07.2008, Vancouver, Canada
  • Abstract in refereed journal
    Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 72(2008)12, A68

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-11683
Publ.-Id: 11683