Directional long-distance electron transfer from reduced to oxidized zones in the subsurface

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50974-x
• Publication Date: 2024-08-03T10:02:15Z
• Authors: Yanting Zhang; Man Tong; Yuxi Lu; Fengyi Zhao; Peng Zhang; Zhenchen Wan; Ping Li; Songhu Yuan; Yanxin Wang; Andreas Kappler
• Keywords: Biogeochemical Cycle; Sink (geography)

Electron transfer (ET) is the fundamental redox process of life and element cycling. The ET distance normally as short nanometers or micrometers in subsurface. However, gradient subsurface long centimeters even meters. This gap triggers an intriguing question whether directional long-distance from reduced to oxidized zones exists along gradient. By using electron-donating capacity variation a proxy ET, we show that can last over 10 cm sediment columns, through chain constituted by series short-distance electron hopping reactions. Microbial chemical processes synergistically mediate chain, with estimated flux 6.73 μmol e−/cm2 per day. represents overlooked but important "remote" source electrons for local biogeochemical environmental processes. A occurs subsurface, which reaches centimeter scale. implicates contribution sources/sinks