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Efficient long-range conduction in cable bacteria through nickel protein wires

Author

Listed:
  • Henricus T. S. Boschker

    (Delft University of Technology
    University of Antwerp)

  • Perran L. M. Cook

    (Monash University)

  • Lubos Polerecky

    (Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University)

  • Raghavendran Thiruvallur Eachambadi

    (Hasselt University)

  • Helena Lozano

    (Nanoscale Bioelectrical Characterization, Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology)

  • Silvia Hidalgo-Martinez

    (University of Antwerp)

  • Dmitry Khalenkow

    (University of Ghent)

  • Valentina Spampinato

    (IMEC)

  • Nathalie Claes

    (University of Antwerp)

  • Paromita Kundu

    (University of Antwerp)

  • Da Wang

    (University of Antwerp)

  • Sara Bals

    (University of Antwerp)

  • Karina K. Sand

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Francesca Cavezza

    (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

  • Tom Hauffman

    (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

  • Jesper Tataru Bjerg

    (University of Antwerp
    Aarhus University
    Aarhus University)

  • Andre G. Skirtach

    (University of Ghent)

  • Kamila Kochan

    (Monash University)

  • Merrilyn McKee

    (Monash University)

  • Bayden Wood

    (Monash University)

  • Diana Bedolla

    (Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A.)

  • Alessandra Gianoncelli

    (Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A.)

  • Nicole M. J. Geerlings

    (Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University)

  • Nani Gerven

    (VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB)
    Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

  • Han Remaut

    (VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB)
    Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

  • Jeanine S. Geelhoed

    (University of Antwerp)

  • Ruben Millan-Solsona

    (Nanoscale Bioelectrical Characterization, Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology
    Universitat de Barcelona)

  • Laura Fumagalli

    (University of Manchester
    National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester)

  • Lars Peter Nielsen

    (Aarhus University
    Aarhus University)

  • Alexis Franquet

    (IMEC)

  • Jean V. Manca

    (Hasselt University)

  • Gabriel Gomila

    (Nanoscale Bioelectrical Characterization, Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology
    Universitat de Barcelona)

  • Filip J. R. Meysman

    (Delft University of Technology
    University of Antwerp)

Abstract

Filamentous cable bacteria display long-range electron transport, generating electrical currents over centimeter distances through a highly ordered network of fibers embedded in their cell envelope. The conductivity of these periplasmic wires is exceptionally high for a biological material, but their chemical structure and underlying electron transport mechanism remain unresolved. Here, we combine high-resolution microscopy, spectroscopy, and chemical imaging on individual cable bacterium filaments to demonstrate that the periplasmic wires consist of a conductive protein core surrounded by an insulating protein shell layer. The core proteins contain a sulfur-ligated nickel cofactor, and conductivity decreases when nickel is oxidized or selectively removed. The involvement of nickel as the active metal in biological conduction is remarkable, and suggests a hitherto unknown form of electron transport that enables efficient conduction in centimeter-long protein structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Henricus T. S. Boschker & Perran L. M. Cook & Lubos Polerecky & Raghavendran Thiruvallur Eachambadi & Helena Lozano & Silvia Hidalgo-Martinez & Dmitry Khalenkow & Valentina Spampinato & Nathalie Claes, 2021. "Efficient long-range conduction in cable bacteria through nickel protein wires," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-24312-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24312-4
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