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The study investigates how the bacterium Beijerinckiaceae RH AL1 mobilizes and selectively enriches light lanthanides from various sources, including minerals, alloys, and pure compounds. Using an integrated approach of transcriptomics, analytics, and electron microscopy, researchers found that this facultative methylotroph forms periplasmic deposits and discriminates against heavy lanthanides regardless of the source type or overall content.

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Abstract

Poorly soluble lanthanide minerals pose challenges for both a sustainable extraction of lanthanides as key resources for decarbonization and lanthanide-dependent microbial metabolism. Microbial use of lanthanides is widespread, yet bacteria's preference for light lanthanides requires differentiation mechanisms that enable downstream utilization. Whether lanthanide discrimination occurs during access, mobilization, uptake, or intracellular processing is mostly unknown and likely controlled by habitat and bioavailability. We studied microbial lanthanide mobilization and uptake from different lanthanide minerals, an alloy, and pure lanthanide compounds. Beijerinckiaceae bacterium RH AL1 served as a model organism for an integrated approach combining transcriptomics, analytics, and electron microscopy. This facultative methylotroph depends on light lanthanides for methanol oxidation and forms periplasmic lanthanide deposits. AL1 grew with all tested lanthanide sources and selectively enriched light lanthanides independent of source type, overall lanthanide content, and the proportion of light lanthanides. Transcriptomics revealed that the type of lanthanide source significantly influenced gene expression beyond lanthanide utilization. Lanthanide discrimination in Beijerinckiaceae bacterium RH AL1 is a multilayered process rooted in the complementary action of chelation, uptake mechanisms, and periplasmic storage. Adaptations that increase lanthanide bioavailability transform mineral-bound lanthanides into shared resources within microbial communities, with implications for sustainable lanthanide use.

Key findings

  • The bacterium RH AL1 selectively enriches light lanthanides independent of the mineral source, total lanthanide concentration, or the proportion of light versus heavy lanthanides present.
  • Microbial discrimination of lanthanides occurs during mobilization and uptake rather than being strictly dependent on specific habitat conditions or bioavailability alone.
  • The model organism forms distinct periplasmic deposits as a mechanism for intracellular storage and selective enrichment.

Keywords

LanthanideBiochemistryIntracellularBiophysics

Identifiers

DOI
10.64898/2026.03.03.709224
Journal
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Year
2026