2026-10-11T16:04:22Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33969710 2026-09-23T03:07:18Z category_1 category_7 category_8 category_14 category_16 category_272 category_873 category_39 category_45 category_734 portal_63 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

Microbial Bioenergetics and Ecology Govern the Coupled Biogeochemical Cycling of Arsenic/Antimony and Macronutrients Zhipeng Yin (7209527) Yuzhu Zhang (648223) Shanjun Song (1654660) Cheng Li (6339) Yongguang Yin (1411507) Yong Cai (292486) Biophysics Medicine Microbiology Molecular Biology Physiology Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified Ecology Sociology Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified synthesize current advances realization also depends new conceptual framework integrating bioenergetic principles theoretical electron flow microbial respiratory chains ladder framework delineates coupled biogeochemical cycling c ), nitrogen 2 </ sub iii )/ sb interconnected cycling electron donors arra </ aioa </ microbial ecology microbial bioenergetics strongly influenced species serve reactions results mechanistic basis many combinations g ., finally emphasize environmental implications ecology govern ecological foundations coupled cycles Arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) are toxic metalloids whose biogeochemical cycles are strongly influenced by carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) through microbially mediated coupled transformations. However, the mechanistic basis of these coupled processes remains poorly understood. In this Review, we synthesize current advances in the interconnected cycling and elucidate their thermodynamic and ecological foundations. Redox-sensitive As, Sb, C, N, and S species serve as electron donors and acceptors in microbial respiratory chains, and the combination of their redox half-reactions results in the coupled cycles. A redox-ladder framework delineates the theoretical electron flow and thermodynamically feasible coupling combinations. Many combinations have been observed in the environments-for instance, NO₃^– reduction to N₂ coupled with As(III)/Sb(III) oxidation. Their realization also depends on microorganisms harboring key genes (e.g., <i>aioA</i> and <i>arrA</i>). The redox-ladder further predicts novel coupling processes, such as As(III)/Sb(III) oxidation coupled to N₂O reduction to N₂. We finally emphasize the need for quantitative biogeochemical models within global change scenarios. By integrating bioenergetic principles with microbial ecology, this Review provides a new conceptual framework for uncovering the linkages among elemental cycles, deepening our understanding of the mechanisms and environmental implications of As/Sb biogeochemical cycling coupled with macronutrients. 2026-09-22T00:00:00Z Dataset Dataset 10.1021/acs.est.5c18164.s001 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Microbial_Bioenergetics_and_Ecology_Govern_the_Coupled_Biogeochemical_Cycling_of_Arsenic_Antimony_and_Macronutrients/33969710 CC BY-NC 4.0