Organized bacterial assemblies in manganese nodules: evidence for a role of S-layers in metal deposition |
| |
| Authors: | Xiaohong Wang Heinz C Schröder Ute Schloßmacher Werner E G Müller |
| |
| Institution: | 1.National Research Center for Geoanalysis,Beijing,China;2.Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Abteilung Angewandte Molekularbiologie,Universit?t Mainz,Mainz,Germany |
| |
| Abstract: | Polymetallic/ferro-manganese nodules (Mn-nodules) reach sizes of up to 10 cm in diameter and are abundantly found on the seabed.
To date, the origin of Mn-nodules remains unclear, and both abiogenic and biogenic origins have been proposed. In search of
evidence for a contribution of microbial processes to the formation of Mn-nodules, we analyzed those spherical nodules which
contain a concentrically banded texture in their interior. The Mn-nodules were collected at a depth of 5,152 m from the Clarion-Clipperton
Zone. Our high-resolution scanning electron microscopy analyses reveal first published evidence that endolithic microorganisms
exist and are arranged in a highly organized manner on plane mineral surfaces within the nodules. These microorganisms are
adorned on their surfaces with S-layers, which are indicative for bacteria. Moreover, the data suggest that these S-layers
are the crystallization seeds for the mineralization process. We conclude that the mineral material of the Mn-nodule has a
biogenic origin, and hope that these data will contribute to the development of biotechnological approaches to concentrate
metals from seawater using bacteria in bioreactors. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
