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Iron reduction by a psychrotolerant Fe(III)-reducing bacterium isolated from ocean sediment

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Abstract

Although psychophiles, which live in cold conditions (<20°C), are very common amongst a wide variety of habitats, studies of Fe(III) reduction and mineral formation by the microbes are rare. A psychorotolerant Fe(III)-reducing bacterium (W3-6-1,Shewanella baltica) isolated form ocean sediments were used to study iron reduction and mineral formation under various growth conditions. The psychorotolerant bacterium was able to use lactate, formate, and hydrogen as electron donors to reduce iron at temperatures between 0°C and 37°C. The W3-6-1 was also capable of reducing a toxic Co(III)-EDTA as the sole electron acceptor. The atmosphere and chemical conditions exhibited strong influence on the mineral types in an anaerobic culture. Magnetite formation was dominant under N2 and H2 atmospheres. Siderite formation was dominant under an H2−CO2 (20∶80) atmosphere. A mixture of magnetite and siderite was formed under an N2−CO2 (80∶20) atmosphere. This study indicates that microbial Fe(III) reduction may play important roles in iron and carbon fate in cold natural environments on a geological time scale.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division, 37831-6038, Oak Ridge, TN, USA

    Yul Roh

  2. Department of Earth System Sciences, Yonsei University, 120-749, Seoul, Korea

    Hi-Soo Moon

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  1. Yul Roh
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  2. Hi-Soo Moon
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Correspondence to Yul Roh.

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Roh, Y., Moon, HS. Iron reduction by a psychrotolerant Fe(III)-reducing bacterium isolated from ocean sediment. Geosci J 5, 183–190 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02910302

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02910302

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