Electrode

Enzyme

Bacteria

Biology

Biophysics

Catalysis

Physical chemistry

Chemistry

Metabolic pathway

Formate

Formate dehydrogenase

Shewanella oneidensis

Cell biology

Genetics

Biochemistry

Catabolism

Nature Communications

Electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) receive considerable attention for their utility in bioelectrochemical processes. Although electrode potentials are known to affect the metabolic activity of EAB, it is unclear whether EAB are able to sense and respond to electrode potentials. Here, we show that, in the presence of a high-potential electrode, a model EAB Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 can utilize NADH-dependent catabolic pathways and a background formate-dependent pathway to achieve high growth yield. We also show that an Arc regulatory system is involved in sensing electrode potentials and regulating the expression of catabolic genes, including those for NADH dehydrogenase. We suggest that these findings may facilitate the use of EAB in biotechnological processes and offer the molecular bases for their ecological strategies in natural habitats.

Electrochemically active bacteria sense electrode potentials for regulating catabolic pathways