Figure 6: Metabolic pathways of Desulfobulbaceae c16a.

Proteomic evidence are indicated with green boxes, and the genomic evidence with white boxes. This microorganism reduces SO₄²⁻ to HS⁻ using electrons from H₂ (grey compartment), thus producing a proton gradient across the cytoplasmic membrane. The intracellular proton translocation is coupled to ATP generation. ATP and electrons (the latter being transferred via reduced ferredoxin and NADH/NADPH) can be used to reduce CO₂ to acetyl-CoA via the reductive acetyl-CoA pathway (orange compartment). Biomass biosynthesis takes place through the tricarboxylic acid cycle (green compartment), and gluconeogenesis (blue compartment). Fatty acids and amino acids biosynthesis is not described in detail, but the proteins involved are listed in purple and red boxes, respectively. Finally, this bacterium can also use acetate and propionate as a source of carbon (yellow compartment). All proteins of this figure are listed in Supplementary Table 7.