Microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) rely on electroactive bacteria to catalyze energy-generating and energy storage reactions at electrodes. Known electroactive bacteria are not equally capable of both reactions, and METs are typically configured to be unidirectional.

Current-producing biofilms in microbial electrochemical systems could potentially sustain technologies ranging from wastewater treatment to bioproduction of electricity if the maximum current produced could be increased and current production start-up times after inoculation could be reduced. Enhancing the current output of microbial electrochemical systems has been mostly approached by engineering physical components of reactors and electrodes.

Life on Earth is found in a wide range of environments as long as the basic requirements of a liquid solvent, a nutrient source, and free energy are met. Previous hypotheses have speculated how extraterrestrial microbial life may function, among them that particle radiation might power living cells indirectly through radiolytic products. On Earth, so-called electrophilic organisms can harness electron flow from an extracellular cathode to build biomolecules. Here, we describe two hypothetical mechanisms, termed “direct electrophy” and “indirect electrophy” or “fluorosynthesis,” by which organisms could harness extracellular free electrons to synthesize organic matter, thus expanding the ensemble of potential habitats in which extraterrestrial organisms might be found in the Solar System and beyond. The first mechanism involves the direct flow of secondary electrons from particle radiation to a microbial cell to power the organism. The second involves the indirect utilization of impinging secondary electrons and a fluorescing molecule, either biotic or abiotic in origin, to drive photosynthesis. Both mechanisms involve the attenuation of an incoming particle's energy to create low-energy secondary electrons. The validity of the hypotheses is assessed through simple calculations showing the biomass density attainable from the energy supplied. Also discussed are potential survival strategies that could be used by organisms living in possible habitats with a plentiful supply of secondary electrons, such as near the surface of an icy moon. While we acknowledge that the only definitive test for the hypothesis is to collect specimens, we also describe experiments or terrestrial observations that could support or nullify the hypotheses. Key Words: Radiation—Electrophiles—Subsurface life. Astrobiology 18, xxx–xxx.

The junction of bioelectrochemical systems and synthetic biology opens the door to many potentially groundbreaking technologies. When developing these possibilities, choosing the correct chassis organism can save a great deal of engineering effort and, indeed, can mean the difference between success and failure. Choosing the correct chassis for a specific application requires a knowledge of the metabolic potential of the candidate organisms, as well as a clear delineation of the traits, required in the application. In this review, we will explore the metabolic and electrochemical potential of a single genus, Marinobacter. We will cover its strengths, (salt tolerance, biofilm formation and electrochemical potential) and weaknesses (insufficient characterization of many strains and a less developed toolbox for genetic manipulation) in potential synthetic electromicrobiology applications. In doing so, we will provide a roadmap for choosing a chassis organism for bioelectrochemical systems.