Investigation of Fe(II) Coordination and Oxidation by Marine Bacteria

铁(Fe)的氧化还原化学在海洋地球化学中起着基础性的作用，但令人惊讶的是，人们对海水中的这些反应知之甚少。Fe的氧化动力学和溶解度表明，Fe(II)在富氧海水中应该不显著，但有报道称Fe(II)的值出乎意料地高。尽管通常需要分析性人工制品来解释这种测量，但伍兹霍尔海洋研究所的科学家提出了另一种解释，即在某些条件下，配体与Fe(II)的络合作用会减缓非生物氧化动力学。基于一类细菌直接参与矿物溶解铁氧化的新证据，他们将研究Fe(II)与有机配体之间的相互作用，为铁的配位和氧化还原化学提供新的见解。使用一种独特的模型系统将使他们能够用一种看起来非常适应、确实在高铁和低铁条件下都能茁壮成长的有机体来详细研究这些过程。由于铁氧化还原化学在所有细胞的生理学中起着核心作用，因此对铁氧化还原化学的了解具有广泛的影响。

ABSTRACTOCE-0425737The redox chemistry of iron (Fe) plays a fundamental role in marine geochemistry, yet surprising little is known about these reactions in seawater. The oxidation kinetics and solubility of Fe suggests that Fe(II) should be insignificant in oxygenated seawater, yet unexpectedly high values have been reported. Although analytical artifacts are usually called upon to explain such measurements, scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have proposed an alternative explanation that in some conditions, Fe(II) chelation by ligands slows abiotic oxidation kinetics. Based on new evidence of a class of bacteria that directly participate in mineral dissolution Fe oxidation do so with the aid of Fe(II) binding ligands, they will study the interactions between Fe(II) and organic ligands to provide new insights into Fe coordination and redox chemistry. Using a unique model system will allow them to examine these processes in detail with an organism that appears remarkably well adapted, indeed thrives, in both high and low Fe conditions. Improved understanding of Fe redox chemistry has a broad impact, due to its central role in the physiology of all cells.