Liliana Teixeira

Research Areas

PhD Thesis: “Unveiling Geobacter sulfurreducens electron transfer chain: probing the mechanis" (2016-2020)

Adviser: Prof. Doutor Carlos Salgueiro

Extracellular electron transfer is the most remarkable feature of the bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens, by which it can reduce toxic or radioactive metals and convert renewable biomass to electricity. However, the mechanisms by which Geobacter sulfurreducens transfers electrons to the cells exterior are still poorly understood. The clarification of such mechanisms is the main goal of this PhD project aiming to contribute to the enhancement of Geobacter sulfurreducens based bioremediation and electricity harvesting applications. Complementary genetic, biochemical and electrochemical experimental approaches will be used to study and explore Geobacter sulfurreducens proteins, namely cytochromes localized at inner membrane/periplasm interface, at periplasm and at periplasm/outer-membrane interface. During this PhD project, the targeted proteins will be cloned and expressed using molecular biology and biochemistry protocols. Once obtained, the proteins will be functionally characterized using different spectroscopic methods and electrochemical studies. This will constitute a route to understand the electron transfer interfacial mechanism towards efficient practical applications in bioremediation processes and bioenergy production.

Main publications

"Thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the outer membrane cytochrome OmcF, a key protein for extracellular electron transfer in Geobacter sulfurreducens." Teixeira LR, Dantas JM, Salgueiro CA, Cordas CM. Biochim Biophys Acta Bioenerg (2018)

"Backbone assignment of cytochrome PccH, a crucial protein for microbial electrosynthesis in Geobacter sulfurreducens." Teixeira LR, Portela PC, Morgado L, Pantoja-Uceda D, Bruix M, Salgueiro CA.Biomol NMR Assign. (2019)