In Vivo Molecular Insights into Syntrophic Geobacter Aggregates

Anal Chem. 2020 Aug 4;92(15):10402-10411. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c00653. Epub 2020 Jul 16.

Abstract

Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) has been considered as a novel and highly efficient strategy in both natural anaerobic environments and artificial microbial fuel cells. A syntrophic model consisting of Geobacter metallireducens and Geobacter sulfurreducens was studied in this work. We conducted in vivo molecular mapping of the outer surface of the syntrophic community as the interface of nutrients and energy exchange. System for Analysis at the Liquid Vacuum Interface combined with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry was employed to capture the molecular distribution of syntrophic Geobacter communities in the living and hydrated state. Principal component analysis with selected peaks revealed that syntrophic Geobacter aggregates were well differentiated from other control samples, including syntrophic planktonic cells, pure cultured planktonic cells, and single population biofilms. Our in vivo imaging indicated that a unique molecular surface was formed. Specifically, aromatic amino acids, phosphatidylethanolamine components, and large water clusters were identified as key components that favored the DIET of syntrophic Geobacter aggregates. Moreover, the molecular changes in depths of the Geobacter aggregates were captured using dynamic depth profiling. Our findings shed new light on the interface components supporting electron transfer in syntrophic communities based on in vivo molecular imaging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids, Aromatic / chemistry
  • Amino Acids, Aromatic / metabolism*
  • Biofilms
  • Electron Transport
  • Geobacter / physiology*
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines / chemistry
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines / metabolism*
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Water / chemistry
  • Water / metabolism

Substances

  • Amino Acids, Aromatic
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines
  • Water
  • phosphatidylethanolamine