Electrogen · Bidirectional EET · DIET partner donor
Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA
Thermodesulfobacteriota · Desulfuromonadia · Geobacteraceae
- Model organism
- Anode respiring
- Metal reducer
- Tier 1
- DIET donor
01 · Identity
Identity
Where this organism sits in the tree of life, how to obtain it, and what a cell looks like.
Lineage
- domainBacteria
- ›phylumThermodesulfobacteriota
- ›classDesulfuromonadia
- ›orderGeobacterales
- ›familyGeobacteraceae
- ›genusGeobacter
- ›speciesGeobacter sulfurreducens PCA
Formerly classified as Deltaproteobacteria.
Culture collections & accessions
- DSMZ
- DSM 12127
- ATCC
- ATCC 51573
- NCBI taxon
- 243231
- Genome
- GCF_000007985.2
- Status
- Type strain
Isolation
From Potomac River sediment, Maryland, USA by Caccavo F. et al. (1994).
Caccavo F, et al. (1994). Geobacter sulfurreducens sp. nov. PubMed
Genome
Cell morphology
Rod, Gram-negative (diderm)
length 2.5 (1.5–4) µm · width 0.5 (0.4–0.7) µm
- Motile: no
- Pili: yes
- Capsule: no
- S-layer: no
- Outer-membrane vesicles: no
- Spore-forming: no
02 · Electron transfer
Electron transfer
How electrons cross the cell envelope — the property that makes a microbe useful in an electrochemical system.
Mechanisms
- Outer-membrane cytochromes: yes
- Conductive pili / nanowires: yes
- Endogenous shuttles: no
- Exogenous shuttles: no
Nanowire conductivity 0.028 (0.001–0.5) S/cm
OmcS filament intrinsic conductivity ~28 mS/cm; values vary widely with measurement method (network vs single-filament). See Wang 2019, Yalcin 2020.
Redox ladder
- 1OmcZ -0.22 V · Extracellular · 8 hemes
- 2OmcS -0.212 V · Nanowire filament · 6 hemes
- 3OmcB -0.19 V · Outer membrane · 12 hemes
- 4PpcA -0.15 V · Periplasm · 3 hemes
Cytochromes (14)
| Name | Location | Hemes | E°′V | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CbcL | Inner membrane | 9 | — | — Required for low-potential (≤−0.1 V) electron transfer. |
| ImcH | Inner membrane | 6 | — | — Inner-membrane cytochrome required for high-potential acceptors. |
| OmaB | Outer membrane | — | — | — Component of the OmaB-OmbB porin-cytochrome complex. |
| OmaC | Outer membrane | — | — | — Component of the OmaC-OmbC porin-cytochrome complex. |
| OmbB | Outer membrane | — | — | — β-barrel porin partner of OmaB. |
| OmbC | Outer membrane | — | — | — β-barrel porin partner of OmaC. |
| OmcB | Outer membrane | 12 | -0.19 | — Outer-membrane dodecaheme; required for Fe(III) citrate reduction. |
| OmcC | Outer membrane | 12 | — | — Paralog of OmcB; less essential phenotypically. |
| OmcE | Nanowire filament | 4 | — | — Tetraheme nanowire identified by cryo-EM (Wang 2022). |
| OmcS | Nanowire filament | 6 | -0.212 | PDB 6EF8EMDB EMD-9046 Forms the canonical conductive nanowire filament (Wang 2019). |
| OmcZ | Extracellular | 8 | -0.22 | PDB 7TFS Octaheme; high-current-density biofilm filament (Yalcin 2020). |
| PpcA | Periplasm | 3 | -0.15 | — Periplasmic triheme; central to Fe(III) and U(VI) reduction. |
| PpcB | Periplasm | 3 | — | — PpcA paralog. |
| PpcD | Periplasm | 3 | — | — PpcA paralog. |
Direct transfer — detail
- Completeness
- Mapped
- Nanowire length
- 5 (1–20) µm
Mediated transfer — detail
- Completeness
- Mapped
03 · Growth envelope
Growth envelope
The conditions this organism tolerates and what it eats and breathes — the operating window for a reactor.
Energy metabolism
Electron donors
- Acetate
- H2
- Formate
Electron acceptors
- Fe(III)
- Mn(IV)
- Fumarate
- Anode
- S0
- U(VI)
Carbon sources
- Acetate
- Hydrogen
- Formate
- Lactate
- Pyruvate
- Respiratory: yes
- Fermentative: no
Metabolism — detail
- ATP synthase type
- Proton dependent
- Energy conservation mechanism
- Oxidative phosphorylation
- Lag phase
- 1 h
04 · Growth & electron-transfer kinetics
Growth & electron-transfer kinetics
How fast this organism grows and how hard it pushes electrons into an anode, as the corpus reports it, and what those constants imply when you run them.
Kinetic evidence
| Parameter | Median | 10–90 % | n | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. specific growth rate μmax | 0.084 h⁻¹ | 0.04–0.18 | 6 | genus prior · 3 refs |
| Half-saturation constant Ks | 80 mg/L | 20–200 | 4 | genus prior · 3 refs |
| Biomass yield Y | 0.07 g/g | 0.04–0.1 | 4 | genus prior · 3 refs |
| Decay coefficient kd | Not in the corpus yet | |||
| Exchange current density i₀ | Not in the corpus yet | |||
| Transfer coefficient α | Not in the corpus yet | |||
| Tafel slope | Not in the corpus yet | |||
Median of the extracted values, the 10–90 % spread behind it and how many values it pools.
43 rows were not pooled: their unit could not be converted unambiguously.
Evidence rows (55)
Listed, not pooled (55)
- lag_phase1 hourNot verifiedspecies rowconfidence 0.95
Cation-driven envelope dynamics modulate outer membrane vesiculation and extracellular electron transfer in Geobacter · 2026 · 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8864095/v1
“The DB-grown cells reproducibly underwent slightly longer (> 1 hour) lag phases yet, once acclimated, they doubled faster than in the NB medium.”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "lag_phase"
- I_max29.5 A/m²Not verifiedspecies rowconfidence 0.95
A microfluidic study of acetate conversion kinetics in a microbial electrolysis cell: The role of age, concentration and flow on biofilm permeability · 2024 · 10.1016/j.snb.2024.135779
“current densities up to 29.5 A/m² recorded across multiple flow conditions || canonical_organism: geobacter_sulfurreducens_pca || canonical_substrate: acetate”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "I_max"
- I_max29.5 A/m²Not verifiedspecies rowconfidence 0.95
A microfluidic study of acetate conversion kinetics in a microbial electrolysis cell: The role of age, concentration and flow on biofilm permeability · 2024 · 10.1016/j.snb.2024.135779
“current densities up to 29.5 A/m² recorded across multiple flow conditions || canonical_organism: geobacter_sulfurreducens_pca || canonical_substrate: acetate”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "I_max"
- mu_max0.12 mA/hNot verifiedspecies rowconfidence 0.8
Electron Donors Supporting Growth and Electroactivity of Geobacter sulfurreducens Anode Biofilms · 2012 · 10.1128/aem.06782-11
“The rate of current increase, which correlates with the exponential phase of biofilm growth (22), averaged 0.12 mA h⁻¹ in triplicate BESs”
Not used in an estimate · unit "mA/h" is not an unambiguous muMaxPerH unit
- mu_max0.12 mA/hNot verifiedspecies rowconfidence 0.8
Electron Donors Supporting Growth and Electroactivity of Geobacter sulfurreducens Anode Biofilms · 2012 · 10.1128/aem.06782-11
“The rate of current increase, which correlates with the exponential phase of biofilm growth (22), averaged 0.12 mA h⁻¹ in triplicate BESs”
Not used in an estimate · unit "mA/h" is not an unambiguous muMaxPerH unit
- mu_max0.12 mA/hNot verifiedspecies rowconfidence 0.8
Electron Donors Supporting Growth and Electroactivity of Geobacter sulfurreducens Anode Biofilms · 2012 · 10.1128/aem.06782-11
“The rate of current increase, which correlates with the exponential phase of biofilm growth (22), averaged 0.12 mA h⁻¹ in triplicate BESs”
Not used in an estimate · unit "mA/h" is not an unambiguous muMaxPerH unit
- mu_max0.12 mA/hNot verifiedspecies rowconfidence 0.8
Electron Donors Supporting Growth and Electroactivity of Geobacter sulfurreducens Anode Biofilms · 2012 · 10.1128/aem.06782-11
“The rate of current increase, which correlates with the exponential phase of biofilm growth (22), averaged 0.12 mA h⁻¹ in triplicate BESs”
Not used in an estimate · unit "mA/h" is not an unambiguous muMaxPerH unit
- K_M0.35 mMNot verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.93
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM = 0.28-0.42 mM (2nd cycle) || range: [0.28, 0.42] || canonical_organism: geobacter_sulfurreducens_pca || canonical_substrate: acetate”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- K_M0.35 mMNot verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.93
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM = 0.28-0.42 mM (2nd cycle) || range: [0.28, 0.42] || canonical_organism: geobacter_sulfurreducens_pca || canonical_substrate: acetate”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- vmax0.0034 mmol/h/cm²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.92
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax = 0.0031-0.0037 mmol h⁻¹ cm⁻² (2nd cycle) || range: [0.0031, 0.0037] || canonical_organism: geobacter_sulfurreducens_pca || canonical_substrate: acetate”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- vmax0.0034 mmol/h/cm²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.92
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax = 0.0031-0.0037 mmol h⁻¹ cm⁻² (2nd cycle) || range: [0.0031, 0.0037] || canonical_organism: geobacter_sulfurreducens_pca || canonical_substrate: acetate”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- vmax0.0042 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- vmax0.0051 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- vmax0.0031 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- vmax0.0037 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- K_M1.02 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- K_M2.61 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- K_M0.28 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- K_M0.42 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- vmax0.0042 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- vmax0.0051 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- vmax0.0031 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- vmax0.0037 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- K_M1.02 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- K_M2.61 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- K_M0.28 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- K_M0.42 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- vmax0.0042 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- vmax0.0051 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- vmax0.0031 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- vmax0.0037 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- K_M1.02 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- K_M2.61 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- K_M0.28 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- K_M0.42 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- vmax0.0042 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- vmax0.0051 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- vmax0.0031 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- vmax0.0037 mmol Ac⁻ h⁻¹ cm⁻²Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“vmax,Ac and KM,Ac, decreased from 0.0042–0.0051 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2 to 0.0031–0.0037 mmol Ac−h−1 cm−2”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "vmax"
- K_M1.02 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- K_M2.61 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- K_M0.28 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- K_M0.42 mM Ac⁻Not verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.9
Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms · 2020 · 10.1371/journal.pone.0234077
“KM,Ac, decreased from 1.02–2.61 mM Ac− to 0.28–0.42 mM Ac−”
Not used in an estimate · Michaelis-Menten Km, not Monod Ks
- E_eq-0.4 V_vs_Ag_AgCl_3M_KClNot verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.92
Behavior of two-chamber microbial electrochemical systems started-up with different ion-exchange membrane separators · 2019 · 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.097
“In the consecutive acetate feedings, EA got more negative and comparable for each MFCs (-0.4 ± 0.03 V)”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "E_eq"
- E_eq0.4 V_vs_Ag_AgCl_3M_KClNot verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.92
Behavior of two-chamber microbial electrochemical systems started-up with different ion-exchange membrane separators · 2019 · 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.097
“EC for AEM-MFC was stabilized at +0.40 ± 0.04 V after the 18th day”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "E_eq"
- E_eq0.33 V_vs_Ag_AgCl_3M_KClNot verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.92
Behavior of two-chamber microbial electrochemical systems started-up with different ion-exchange membrane separators · 2019 · 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.097
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "E_eq"
- E_eq0.27 V_vs_Ag_AgCl_3M_KClNot verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.92
Behavior of two-chamber microbial electrochemical systems started-up with different ion-exchange membrane separators · 2019 · 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.097
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "E_eq"
- E_eq-0.4 V_vs_Ag_AgCl_3M_KClNot verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.92
Behavior of two-chamber microbial electrochemical systems started-up with different ion-exchange membrane separators · 2019 · 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.097
“In the consecutive acetate feedings, EA got more negative and comparable for each MFCs (-0.4 ± 0.03 V)”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "E_eq"
- E_eq0.4 V_vs_Ag_AgCl_3M_KClNot verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.92
Behavior of two-chamber microbial electrochemical systems started-up with different ion-exchange membrane separators · 2019 · 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.097
“EC for AEM-MFC was stabilized at +0.40 ± 0.04 V after the 18th day”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "E_eq"
- E_eq0.33 V_vs_Ag_AgCl_3M_KClNot verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.92
Behavior of two-chamber microbial electrochemical systems started-up with different ion-exchange membrane separators · 2019 · 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.097
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "E_eq"
- E_eq0.27 V_vs_Ag_AgCl_3M_KClNot verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.92
Behavior of two-chamber microbial electrochemical systems started-up with different ion-exchange membrane separators · 2019 · 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.097
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "E_eq"
- E_eq-0.4 V_vs_Ag_AgCl_3M_KClNot verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.92
Behavior of two-chamber microbial electrochemical systems started-up with different ion-exchange membrane separators · 2019 · 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.097
“In the consecutive acetate feedings, EA got more negative and comparable for each MFCs (-0.4 ± 0.03 V)”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "E_eq"
- E_eq0.4 V_vs_Ag_AgCl_3M_KClNot verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.92
Behavior of two-chamber microbial electrochemical systems started-up with different ion-exchange membrane separators · 2019 · 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.097
“EC for AEM-MFC was stabilized at +0.40 ± 0.04 V after the 18th day”
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "E_eq"
- E_eq0.33 V_vs_Ag_AgCl_3M_KClNot verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.92
Behavior of two-chamber microbial electrochemical systems started-up with different ion-exchange membrane separators · 2019 · 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.097
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "E_eq"
- E_eq0.27 V_vs_Ag_AgCl_3M_KClNot verifiedgenus rowconfidence 0.92
Behavior of two-chamber microbial electrochemical systems started-up with different ion-exchange membrane separators · 2019 · 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.097
Not used in an estimate · unrecognised kinetic parameter "E_eq"
Genus-level prior: Geobacter sulfurreducens
A genus-level prior is a summary for the whole genus, not a measurement on this strain.
Constants that drive the simulation
Scenario — values you set, not evidence
Growth simulation
Scenario: Initial substrate 1000 mg/L · Initial attached biomass 0.1 g/m² · Anode area per liquid volume 100 m²/m³ · Duration 72 h · Batch. Values you set, not evidence.
No current model
The current needs Max. current density jmax, Half-saturation potential E_KA, which this source does not have.
- Substrate-saturated growth
- Slowing
- Stationary
Monod growth has no lag phase; the bands mark where the net growth rate is near its maximum, falling, near zero or negative.
Simulator notes
- decayPerH absent: no endogenous decay term, so growth is an upper bound
- biofilmDensityKgPerM3 absent: thickness not computed (thicknessUm = null)
- no anodePotentialVvsShe / overpotentialV given: current not computed (currentDensityAPerM2 = null)
Driving force per redox carrier
- 1OmcZ -0.22 V · Extracellular · 8 hemes
- 2OmcS -0.212 V · Nanowire filament · 6 hemes
- 3OmcB -0.19 V · Outer membrane · 12 hemes
- 4PpcA -0.15 V · Periplasm · 3 hemes
E_anode − E_m at an anode potential of 0 V vs SHE.
- OmcZ+220 mV · downhill
- OmcS+212 mV · downhill
- OmcB+190 mV · downhill
- PpcA+150 mV · downhill
These curves are a Monod and Nernst-Monod idealisation (after Marcus et al. 2007 and Torres et al. 2008), parameterised only by the constants listed above: each one carries its n and its 10–90 % range, and a constant with n = 1 has no spread at all. No diffusion inside the biofilm, no detachment, no coulombic-efficiency split. The scenario values are yours, not evidence.
05 · Performance
Performance
Reported electrochemical output, the role it plays in a reactor, and what it produces.
- Onset potential
- -0.17 V vs SHE
Role in a reactor
Often dominates acetate-fed anode biofilms after enrichment.
Substrate → product (1)
- acetateyields
- CO2
anaerobic, anode as electron acceptor · yield 8 electrons/mol acetate · Complete oxidation to CO2.
06 · Ecology & biofilm
Ecology & biofilm
How it lives on an electrode, who it partners with, and where it is found in nature.
Biofilm
- Forms biofilm: yes
Biofilm conductivity
0.05 (0.005–5) S/m
Preferred electrode materials
- graphite felt
- carbon cloth
- carbon brush
- stainless steel mesh
Electron-exchange partners (3)
- gives e⁻ to →Methanothrix harundinacea
methanogenic anaerobic digester, rice paddy soil
Co culture demonstrated - gives e⁻ to →Methanosarcina acetivorans
methanogenic systems
Co culture demonstrated - ← takes e⁻ fromGeobacter metallireducens GS-15
ethanol→fumarate co-culture
Co culture demonstrated
Frequently co-occurs with
- Methanothrix harundinacea
- Methanosarcina spp.
- Pelobacter spp.
Conductive-mineral mediation
- Mediates via conductive minerals: yes
- Magnetite
- Biochar
Magnetite stimulates DIET with methanogen partners; biochar similarly enhances syntrophic acetate/butyrate degradation (Liu 2015, Cruz Viggi 2014).
Ecosystems
- Freshwater
- Subsurface
- Engineered MES
Isolation sources
- subsurface sediment, Norman, Oklahoma USA
07 · Applications, engineering & safety
Applications, engineering & safety
Where it has been put to work, how tractable it is to engineer, and what handling it requires.
Applications (4)
- Bioremediation metals · Pilot scaleTRL 6/9
- Wastewater treatment · Pilot scaleTRL 5/9
- Bioelectricity generation · Bench scaleTRL 4/9
- Research model organism · Lab pure culture
Engineering
Reactor compatibility
- MFC dual chamber
- MEC
- Sediment MFC
- Scale demonstrated
- Pilot
Engineering history (3)
- 1994 Wild type isolation
Type strain isolated from Potomac River sediment.
1994 · Caccavo F, et al. 1994
- 2009 Evolution
Adaptive lab evolution under high-current selection (KN400 strain).
Max current density 4 → 7.6 A/m2
2009 · Yi H, et al. (2009). KN400 strain selection.DOI Spawned the geobacter_sulfurreducens_kn400 strain record (planned but not yet seeded).
- 2014 Engineered
Markerless deletion of omcZ; abolishes high-current biofilm phenotype.
2014 · Inoue K, et al. (2010); Liu Y, et al. (2014).DOI
Genetics
- Genetically tractable: yes
Key EET genes
- pilA
- omcB
- omcC
- omcS
- omcZ
- omcE
- ppcA
- imcH
- cbcL
qPCR targets
- pilA
- omcB
- omcZ
- omcS
Transformation methods
- Electroporation
- Available genetic tools
- markerless deletion
- pRG5 plasmid
- pCM66 derivatives
- CRISPR-Cas9
Omics studies (2)
Operation
- Fouling resistance
- High
- Load change sensitivity
- Low
- Recommended inoculation
- Pre-grown anode biofilm transfer or planktonic seed at OD600 0.05–0.1 with acetate poising.
- Pure vs mixed performance delta
- 1
Commercial
Strain itself is unencumbered; specific engineered variants may be IP-protected.
Biosafety
- Pathogen: no
Modeling assets
- Genome-scale metabolic model: yes
- Kinetic model: yes
- Biofilm model: yes
- iAF987 (Feist et al. 2014)
Linked GEM: iAF987
08 · Sources & data quality
Sources & data quality
Every value above traces to a citation. This is how complete and how confident the record is.
Record quality
Literature reviewed 2026-04-26 · schema v1.2.0 · updated 2026-05-14 · imported 2026-04-28
Per-field confidence
- Engineering history
- High
- Genome metadata.size (bp)
- High
- Bibliometrics.total publications
- Medium
- EET mechanism.direct transfer.cytochromes
- High
- Electrochemical performance.max current density
- High
References (5)
- Caccavo F, et al. (1994). Geobacter sulfurreducens sp. nov. Appl Environ Microbiol 60:3752-3759.PMID 7527204
- Bond DR, Lovley DR (2003). Electricity production by Geobacter sulfurreducens attached to electrodes. Appl Environ Microbiol 69:1548-1555.doi:10.1128/AEM.69.3.1548-1555.2003
- Reguera G, et al. (2005). Extracellular electron transfer via microbial nanowires. Nature 435:1098-1101.doi:10.1038/nature03661
- Logan BE, et al. (2019). Electroactive microorganisms in BES. Nat Rev Microbiol 17:307-319.doi:10.1038/s41579-019-0173-x
- Wang F, et al. (2019). Structure of microbial nanowires reveals stacked hemes. Cell 177:361-369.
Bibliometrics
| PI | Lab | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Derek R. Lovley | Lovley Lab | USA |
| Nikhil S. Malvankar | Malvankar Lab | USA |
| Notes | Topic | Conflicting DOIs |
|---|---|---|
| Reguera 2005 reported PilA pili as nanowires; Wang 2019 demonstrated OmcS cytochrome filaments. Current consensus: OmcS/OmcZ filaments are the primary nanowires; PilA pilin is a secretion machine. | Pilus vs cytochrome-filament identity of conductive nanowires | 10.1038/nature03661, 10.1016/j.cell.2019.03.029 |
| Year | Citation | DOI |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Lovley DR (2012). Electromicrobiology. Annu Rev Microbiol 66:391-409. | — |
| 2019 | Logan BE, et al. (2019). Electroactive microorganisms in BES. Nat Rev Microbiol 17:307-319. | 10.1038/s41579-019-0173-x |
Version history
- 2026-04-27 · v1.2.0 · messai_curation
- Added structured cytochromes[] inventory with localization, heme counts, midpoint potentials.
- Added genome_metadata, isolation provenance, type strain flag.
- Added engineering_history (KN400 ALE; omcZ knockout).
- Added bibliometrics, omics_resources, conductive mineral mediation.