Acetogenic bacteria rely on the reduction of CO2 to acetate by the Wood–Ljungdahl pathway to couple energy conservation and biomass production. However, how energy is conserved in acetogens has been an enigma. Here, Schuchmann and Müller describe recent insights into the biochemistry and genetics of the energy metabolism of model acetogens, highlight how these bacteria link CO2fixation to energy conservation and propose a new bioenergetic classification for acetogens.
- Kai Schuchmann
- Volker Müller
