When researchers first looked at the long tendril arise by “ electric bacterium ” calledShewanella , they thought it was just common bacterial hair ( orpili ) for feel surfaces and connecting to other bacterium . Now , an examination of their structure divulge that they ’re really nanowires that can behave electricity . Theworkwas write inProceedings of the National Academy of Sciencesthis calendar week .
“ The pili idea was the substantial hypothesis , but we were always cautious because the exact composition and structure were very subtle . Then we solved the data-based challenges and the hard data took us in a totally dissimilar direction . I have never been happier about being incorrect , ” saysMoh El - Naggar at the University of Southern Californiain anews release . “ In many fashion , it turned out to be an even cleverer agency for bacterium to power themselves . ”
To see what the nanowires are made of , El - Naggar and colleagues used techniques from genetic science and molecular biology to narrow down the proteins involved . First , during the formation of nanowires , they notice an increase in the expression of gene for ship negatron – but no such increase was observed in the expression of genes for pili .
Then , the team divest the bacterium of atomic number 8 – forcing them to stretch out their nanowires on mastery – and stained various cellular phone parts and specific proteins so that they would fluoresce for the camera ( picture below ) . Like us , bacterium come about electron to oxygen for energy ; in anaerobic settlings , electric bacterium can still make the zip molecule ATP by pushing negatron to rocks and minerals .
The team discover that the nanowires are file name extension of the bacterium ’s stunned membrane . And rather than bacterial tomentum protein , the extension are comprised of specialized proteins call cytochromes , which shuttle electrons .
" What the cell is doing is actually morphing a little bit,“El - Naggar tells Popular Science . " It ’s extending its proscribed membrane in the shape of a long tube . " The cytochrome allow the bacterium to transfer electricity to a variety of solid surfaces and to power themselves .
Understanding how microbes build up and break down mineral could help researchers harness them for fuel cellphone , batteries , and system that turn waste into electricity .
Here ’s avideoof the nanowires reach out out . These few - 2nd magazine were the answer of a batch of behind - the - scenes juggle : at the same time labeling multiple feature , sustain a camera focused on wriggling bacterium , and compound optical techniques with atom - scale microscopy for higher solvent .
