Chemoheterotrophic Anaerobic

Metabolism

Energy Conservation via Electron

Transport Phosphorylation
zSome facultative and obligate anaerobes
zFumarate reduction: fumarate reductase
z fumarate as the electron acceptor
zVibrio succinogenes, Desulfovibrio gigas,
Clostridium formicoacetium,
Propionibacteria, E. coli and Proteus
rettgeri

Fumarate reduction: fumarate reductase

z H2 and formate electron donor
zFumarate reductase a membran bound
Fe-S flavoprotein (inner side of the
cytoplasmic memb.)
zMK @ DMK (2-methylmenaquinone) &
cytochrome-b electron carriers

Nitrate reduction: nitrate reductase

NO3- + H2 NO2- + H2O Go = -163 kJ/mol
Facultative anaerobes: E. coli, Klebsiella
pneumoniae, Paracoccus denitrificans and
species of Pseudomonas
Obligate anaerobes: Veillonella alcalescens,
Selenomonas ruminantium and
Clostridium perfringens

Nitrate reduction: nitrate reductase

z Nitrate reduction system a memb. bound
nitrate reductase, dehyrogenases & electron
carriers
z Electron donors : NADH, succinate, lactate,
formate, glyserol phosphate & H2
z Evidence: electron transport phosphorylation in
anaerobic nitrate reduction Veillonella
alcalescens
z 1. grows anaerobically on H2 & nitrate only
nitrite as product
Reduction of nitrate yields energy

z2. Measurements: H+/nitrate

z 2 proton translocating segments each
2H+ with overall H+/nitrate = 4
z p adequate for ATP synthesis
zDetermination of Pi esterificaiton during
nitrate reduction to nirite by E. coli &
Micrococcus denitrificans confirm that
ATP synthesis occurs.

Sulphate-reducing Bacteria
z Able to utilize sulphate as a terminal electron
acceptor (obligate anaerobes)
z Seven genera: Desulfovibrio,
Desulfotomaculum, Desulfobacter,
Desulfobulbus, Desulfonema, Desulfococcus
and Desulfosarcina
z First four are chemoheterotrophs and last three
are chemoautotrophs capable of growth on
formate + sulphate without organics substrates

zDesulfonema and Desulfosarcina are also

able to grow on hydrogen and CO2 +
sulphate
zThese organisms ecological and
economic importance

Anaerobic respiration
with sulfate as the
terminal electron
acceptor:
Sulfate respiration
Dissimilatory sulfate
reduction

Desufovibrio

Desulfobacter

To atmosphere

Electron
transport and
energy
conservation in
sulfate-reducing
bacteria