Multiscale regulation of electroactive biofilms by potassium channels: Mechanisms and environmental applications.

Electroactive biofilms possess considerable application value in diverse fields, including environmental remediation, energy production, and biosensing. However, the intricate mechanisms underlying their functional regulation have yet to be fully elucidated. This article systematically reviews the multi-scale regulatory role of potassium ion (K+) channels in electroactive biofilms and their potential environmental applications. By comparing the K+ channel systems of Gram-negative bacteria with those of Gram-positive bacteria, significant differences in their structure, function, and regulatory mechanisms were uncovered. Researchers have found that potassium (K+) channels directly affect the formation and electron transfer efficiency of biofilms by regulating the dynamic equilibrium of membrane potential, the steady state of osmotic pressure, and quorum sensing signals. Geobacter's gsuk channel facilitates electrical signal transmission via the RCK domain, whereas B. subtilis' Ktr system depends on c-di-AMP to modulate potassium ion homeostasis. Furthermore, the "salt-in" strategy of K+ channels is crucial for microorganisms' adaptation to high-salt environments. This study offers a theoretical foundation for enhancing the cultivation and regulation of electroactive biofilms.

• Publication year

  2026

• Venue

  Bioelectrochemistry

• Publication date

  2026-02-14

• Fields of study

  Medicine, Environmental Science

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2026.109238PMID 41702294
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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