@article {3102,
	title = {Low Energy Atomic Models Suggesting a Pilus Structure that could Account for Electrical Conductivity of Geobacter sulfurreducens Pili.},
	journal = {Sci Rep},
	volume = {6},
	year = {2016},
	month = {2016 Mar 22},
	pages = {23385},
	abstract = {<p>The metallic-like electrical conductivity of Geobacter sulfurreducens pili has been documented with multiple lines of experimental evidence, but there is only a rudimentary understanding of the structural features which contribute to this novel mode of biological electron transport. In order to determine if it was feasible for the pilin monomers of G. sulfurreducens to assemble into a conductive filament, theoretical energy-minimized models of Geobacter pili were constructed with a previously described approach, in which pilin monomers are assembled using randomized structural parameters and distance constraints. The lowest energy models from a specific group of predicted structures lacked a central channel, in contrast to previously existing pili models. In half of the no-channel models the three N-terminal aromatic residues of the pilin monomer are arranged in a potentially electrically conductive geometry, sufficiently close to account for the experimentally observed metallic like conductivity of the pili that has been attributed to overlapping pi-pi orbitals of aromatic amino acids. These atomic resolution models capable of explaining the observed conductive properties of Geobacter pili are a valuable tool to guide further investigation of the metallic-like conductivity of the pili, their role in biogeochemical cycling, and applications in bioenergy and bioelectronics.</p>},
	keywords = {Electric Conductivity, Fimbriae, Bacterial, Geobacter, Models, Theoretical},
	issn = {2045-2322},
	doi = {10.1038/srep23385},
	author = {Xiao, Ke and Malvankar, Nikhil S and Shu, Chuanjun and Martz, Eric and Lovley, Derek R and Sun, Xiao}
}
@article {572,
	title = {Analysis of the genetic potential and gene expression of microbial communities involved in the in situ bioremediation of uranium and harvesting electrical energy from organic matter.},
	journal = {OMICS},
	volume = {6},
	year = {2002},
	month = {2002},
	pages = {331-9},
	abstract = {The proposed research will investigate two microbial communities that are of direct relevance to Department of Energy interests. One is the microbial community associated with the in situ bioremediation of uranium-contaminated groundwater. The second is a microbial community that harvests energy from waste organic matter in the form of electricity. These studies will address DOE needs for (1) remediation of metals and radionuclides at DOE sites and (2) the development of cleaner forms of energy and biomass conversion to energy. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the microbial communities involved in uranium bioremediation and energy harvesting are both dominated by microorganisms in the family Geobacteraceae and that the organisms in this family are responsible for uranium bioremediation and electron transfer to electrodes. The initial objectives of this study are to (1) describe the genetic potential of the Geobacteraceae that predominate in the environments of interest; (2) identify conserved patterns of gene expression within the Geobacteraceae family in response to a range of environmental conditions; (3) begin to identify mechanisms controlling the expression of key genes related to survival, growth, and activity in subsurface environments and on electrodes; and (4) use the results from subobjectives 1-3 to develop a conceptual model for predicting gene expression of Geobacteraceae in the environments of interest. This will serve as the basis for a subsequent simulation model of the growth and activity of Geobacteraceae in the subsurface and on electrodes.},
	keywords = {Biodegradation, Environmental, Deltaproteobacteria, Electricity, Electrodes, Energy Metabolism, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Genome, Bacterial, Geologic Sediments, Models, Theoretical, Uranium},
	issn = {1536-2310},
	doi = {10.1089/153623102321112755},
	author = {Lovley, Derek R}
}
