Enhanced microbial corrosion of stainless steel by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans through the manipulation of substrate oxidation and overexpression of rus

Abstract

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans cells can oxidize iron and sulfur and are key members of the microbial biomining communities that are exploited in the large-scale bioleaching of metal sulfide ores. Some minerals are recalcitrant to bioleaching due to the presence of other inhibitory materials in the ore bodies. Additives are intentionally included in processed metals to reduce environmental impacts and microbially influenced corrosion. We have previously reported a new aerobic corrosion

Glutathione synthetase overexpression in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans improves halotolerance of iron oxidation

“…P-values less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. pJRD215 empty vector with tac promoter and rrnB terminator pYI11 with in-frame C-terminus His-tag pYI39 with gshA from A. ferrooxidans pYI39 with gshB from A. ferrooxidans (10) This study This study This study…”

“…The enhancement of copper recovery upon chloride addition is attributed to the reduction of surface passivation of the mineral (9). Furthermore, there are potential new bioleaching applications such as waste metal recycling and corrosion which could benefit from the inclusion of chloride species, permitting unique reaction chemistries (10).…”

Computational structure prediction provides a plausible mechanism for electron transfer by the outer membrane protein Cyc2 from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

“…8,17 Overexpression of the cyc2 gene increases Fe(II) oxidation, 18 as does overexpression of the rus gene that encodes Rcy. 19 The 3-D structural information for Cyc2 has not yet been reported, likely due to experimental difficulties, and this hampered our mechanistic understanding of this key energetic pathway.…”

“…The Cyc2 protein (485 amino acids, MW 52.4 kDa; Figures S1, S2) is the critical outer transmembrane protein that serves as the extracellular interface for electron transfer necessary for iron oxidation or reduction 8,17 . Overexpression of the cyc2 gene increases Fe(II) oxidation, 18 as does overexpression of the rus gene that encodes Rcy 19 . The 3‐D structural information for Cyc2 has not yet been reported, likely due to experimental difficulties, and this hampered our mechanistic understanding of this key energetic pathway.…”

Computational Structure Prediction Provides a Plausible Mechanism for Electron Transfer by the Outer Membrane Protein Cyc2 fromAcidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

“…S2) is the critical outer transmembrane protein that serves as the extracellular interface for electron transfer necessary for iron oxidation or reduction (97; 18). Overexpression of the cyc2 gene increases Fe(II) oxidation (54), as does overexpression of the rus gene that encodes Rcy (36). 3-D structural information for Cyc2 has not yet been reported, likely due to experimental difficulties, and this hampered our mechanistic understanding of this key energetic pathway.…”