Hydrogen-oxidising Proteobacteria

Hydrogen-oxidising Proteobacteria

This diverse group of bacteria are united by their ability to derive energy by using hydrogen gas as a donor of electrons, and oxygen as an acceptor:

2H2+ O2−−−−−−−→ 2H2O

Nearly all the members of this group are facultative chemolithotrophs, i.e. they can also grow as heterotrophs, utilising organic compounds instead of CO2 as their carbon source, and indeed most grow more efficiently in this way.

Representative genera: Alcaligenes, Ralstoni