Photoferrotrophic bacteria harness energy from sunlight to fix inorganic carbon into biomass while oxidizing ferrous iron. They thus populate illuminated, iron-rich (ferruginous) environments where they drive fluxes of matter and energy supporting biogeochemical cycling of carbon, iron and many other elements. While such ferruginous conditions were the hallmark of the low oxygen oceans of the Precambrian eons, they also develop today in spatially restricted or ephemeral environments that likely contribute quantitatively to global biogeochemical cycles. Despite the possible importance of photoferrotrophic iron oxidation to biogeochemical cycling throughout Earth’s history, relatively little is known about the genes and enzymes responsible, the regulation and limits of Fe oxidation rates, and the broader ecological context within which photoferrotrophy operates. This talk will highlight emerging insight into the metabolic capacity, physiology, and ecology of photoferrotrophs relevant to biogeochemical cycling on the modern and ancient Earth.<br/>

Photosynthetic iron oxidation in the phylum chlorobi

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.