Low-temperature STM studies of electronic properties of microbial nanowires
ORAL
Abstract
\textit{Geobacter sulfurreducens} expresses pili that act as electrically conductive nanowires. These microbial nanowires transport metabolically generated electrons outside the cell body to electron acceptors in the organism's environment. We have performed scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy on these pili in an endeavor to elucidate the mechanism of conductivity. In particular, we will discuss spectroscopy curves acquired at a temperature of 77 K.
*This work supported by the NSF--MCB Grant No. 1021948 and a Strategic Partnership Grant from the Michigan State University Foundation. K.W. acknowledges support from a U.S. Department of Education GAANN fellowship.
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