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Phosphite oxidation by sulphate reduction

Author

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  • Bernhard Schink

    (Faculty of Biology, University of Konstanz)

  • Michael Friedrich

    (Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology)

Abstract

Biological phosphorus occurs almost exclusively as phosphate in the redox state of + V, although a few phosphonic (+ III) and phosphinic (+ I) acids are found as secondary metabolites1 or as constituents of phosphonolipids. Here we show that a culture of a lithoautotrophic bacterium purified from marine sediments in Venice can grow by anaerobic oxidation of phosphite (+ III) to phosphate (+ V) while simultaneously reducing sulphate to hydrogen sulphide. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a redox reaction involving phosphorus in microbial energy metabolism, an activity that might have operated on the early Earth and which could represent an ancient evolutionary trait.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernhard Schink & Michael Friedrich, 2000. "Phosphite oxidation by sulphate reduction," Nature, Nature, vol. 406(6791), pages 37-37, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:406:y:2000:i:6791:d:10.1038_35017644
    DOI: 10.1038/35017644
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