Another chemolithotrophic metabolism missing in nature: sulfur comproportionation

Environmental Microbiology
J P AmendD. E. LaRowe

Abstract

Chemotrophic microorganisms gain energy for cellular functions by catalyzing oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions that are out of equilibrium. Calculations of the Gibbs energy ( ΔG r ) can identify whether a reaction is thermodynamically favourable and quantify the accompanying energy yield at the temperature, pressure and chemical composition in the system of interest. Based on carefully calculated values of ΔG r , we predict a novel microbial metabolism - sulfur comproportionation (3H2 S + SO 4 2 - + 2H+ ⇌ 4S0 + 4H2 O). We show that at elevated concentrations of sulfide and sulfate in acidic environments over a broad temperature range, this putative metabolism can be exergonic ( ΔG r <0), yielding ~30-50 kJ mol-1 . We suggest that this may be sufficient energy to support a chemolithotrophic metabolism currently missing from the literature. Other versions of this metabolism, comproportionation to thiosulfate (H2 S + SO 4 2 - ⇌ S 2 O 3 2 - + H2 O) and to sulfite (H2 S + 3 SO 4 2 - ⇌ 4 SO 3 2 - + 2H+ ), are only moderately exergonic or endergonic even at ideal geochemical conditions. Natural and impacted environments, including sulfidic karst systems, shallow-sea hydrothermal vents, sites of ac...Continue Reading

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Aug 14, 2019·Environmental Microbiology·Jan P Amend, Douglas E LaRowe

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Citations

Jun 29, 2021·Frontiers in Microbiology·Douglas E LaRoweJan P Amend
Jun 24, 2021·FEMS Microbiology Ecology·Maureen A O'Malley, David A Walsh
Sep 15, 2021·Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies·Khoren AvetisyanAlexey Kamyshny

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
fluorescence microscopy

Software Mentioned

SUPCRT92

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