The microbial sulfur cycle

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views

80

authors

21

articles

The microbial sulfur cycle

334.3K

views

80

authors

21

articles

Editorial

02 December 2011

The Microbial Sulfur Cycle

34,316 views

44 citations

Editors

3

School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University

Donald A Bryant

The Pennsylvania State University (PSU)

Thomas E Hanson

University of Delaware

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Sulfur is the tenth most abundant element in the universe and the sixth most abundant element in microbial biomass. By virtue of its chemical properties, particularly the wide range of stable redox states, sulfur plays a critical role in central biochemistry as a structural element, redox center, and carbon carrier. In addition, redox reactions involving reduced and oxidized inorganic sulfur compounds can be utilized by microbes for the generation and conservation of biochemical energy. Microbial transformation of both inorganic and organic sulfur compounds has had a profound effect on the properties of the biosphere and continues to affect geochemistry today. For these reasons, we present here a collection of articles from the leading edge of the field of sulfur microbiology, focusing on reactions and compounds of geochemical significance.

Image: Sulfur globules produced during sulfide oxidation by Chlorobaculum tepidum imaged by scanning electron microscopy. Image courtesy of Dr. Clara Chan, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Delaware.

Sulfur is the tenth most abundant element in the universe and the sixth most abundant element in microbial biomass. By virtue of its chemical properties, particularly the wide range of stable redox states, sulfur plays a critical role in central biochemistry as a structural element, redox center, and carbon carrier. In addition, redox reactions involving reduced and oxidized inorganic sulfur compounds can be utilized by microbes for the generation and conservation of biochemical energy. Microbial transformation of both inorganic and organic sulfur compounds has had a profound effect on the properties of the biosphere and continues to affect geochemistry today. For these reasons, we present here a collection of articles from the leading edge of the field of sulfur microbiology, focusing on reactions and compounds of geochemical significance.

Image: Sulfur globules produced during sulfide oxidation by Chlorobaculum tepidum imaged by scanning electron microscopy. Image courtesy of Dr. Clara Chan, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Delaware.

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Editors

School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University

Donald A Bryant

The Pennsylvania State University (PSU)

Thomas E Hanson

University of Delaware

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Frontiers in Microbiology

Microbial Physiology and Metabolism

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