[Effect of permeabilization on sulfate reduction activity of Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough cells in the presence of different electron donors].

The Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough (DvH) cells permeabilized with ethanol were used as biocatalysts to enhance hydrogenotrophic sulfate conversion. The effect of permeabilization extent of DvH cells on sulfate reduction was studied in the presence of different electron donors. When hydrogen was used as an electron donor, the highest level of sulfate reduction activity attained in cells treated with 10% ethanol (V/V), followed by 15% -ethanol treated cells. Furthermore, sulfate reduction activity markedly decreased when the ethanol concentration exceeded 15%. However, when lactate was used as the electron donor, the optimum ethanol concentration of the permeabilizing reagent was 20%, followed by 15% and 10%. Even when ethanol concentration reached 25%, DvH cells remained their partial activity with lactate. In a word, sulfate reduction activity of DvH cells responded differently in the presence of different donors. This was because the oxidation process of H2 and lactate occurred at different positions in DvH cells, and consequently intracellular electron transport pathway differed. To ensure the integrity of the electron transport chain between the donor and the accepter was a key factor for determining the permeabilization extent and for the application of cell permeabilization technology.