Researchers from the University of Potsdam and University of Marburg have identified how specific bacteria, known as rock eaters, convert carbon dioxide into biomass. The study focuses on the DAB2 membrane complex, which allows these organisms to accumulate bicarbonate without consuming ATP, making their energy metabolism highly efficient in extreme environments. By using electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy, the team discovered that these microbes use the concentration gradient across their cell membranes to catalyze the conversion of CO2. This finding provides deeper insight into the biological processes that drive carbon fixation in inorganic environments.
