A direct demonstration of hydrogen cycling by Desulfovibrio vulgaris employing membrane-inlet mass spectrometry

Employing membrane-inlet mass spectrometry, direct evidence is presented that substrate amounts of hydrogen are simultaneously produced and consumed during the metabolism of pyruvate plus sulfate by washed intact cells of Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough). The results clearly demonstrate that hydrogen cycling is an important bioenergetic mechanism for this sulfate-reducing bacterium when growing on pyruvate plus sulfate.