Effects and mechanism of riboflavin on the growth of Alcaligenes faecalis under bias conditions

Abstract

Some microorganisms can utilize photoelectrons and electrode electrons. Exogenous electrons generate enough energy for growth, and electron shuttles may accelerate this process. This research data supported photoelectron-responsive microorganism Alcaligenes faecalis was effected by the growth metabolism due to bias and electron shuttle riboflavin (RF) with an adaptive screening voltage under oligotrophic conditions. A slight change was observed in the redox property of RF. RF played the role of an electron shuttle. Microbial extracellular metabolites could bind additional nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) species with RF. The intracellular protein content in the group of RF–Bias was 1.94, 1.93 and 4.02 times higher than those in the RF, bias and control groups, respectively, while the corresponding intracellular contents of humus were 1.10, 0.93 and 1.42 times higher. The content of CoA in RF–Bias, RF and bias increased to 116.0%, 108.5% and 103.8%, respectively. The organic acids of the RF–Bias group in the Krebs cycle are more advanced than those of other groups. Overall, in the Krebs cycle, RF and bias facilitated the growth and metabolism of A. faecalis. Finally, a mechanism was proposed, showing that the electron transfer chain and the Krebs cycle are stimulated by RF and bias.