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Generation of zero-valent sulfur from dissimilatory sulfate reduction in sulfate-reducing microorganisms.

Shanquan WangQihong LuZhiwei LiangXiaoxiao YuMang LinBixian MaiRongliang QiuWen-Sheng ShuZhili HeJudy D Wall
Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (2023)
Dissimilatory sulfate reduction (DSR) mediated by sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRMs) plays a pivotal role in global sulfur, carbon, oxygen, and iron cycles since at least 3.5 billion y ago. The canonical DSR pathway is believed to be sulfate reduction to sulfide. Herein, we report a DSR pathway in phylogenetically diverse SRMs through which zero-valent sulfur (ZVS) is directly generated. We identified that approximately 9% of sulfate reduction was directed toward ZVS with S 8 as a predominant product, and the ratio of sulfate-to-ZVS could be changed with SRMs' growth conditions, particularly the medium salinity. Further coculturing experiments and metadata analyses revealed that DSR-derived ZVS supported the growth of various ZVS-metabolizing microorganisms, highlighting this pathway as an essential component of the sulfur biogeochemical cycle.
Keyphrases
  • single cell