chemoautotrophic


chemoautotrophic

 [ke″mo-au″to-trof´ik] capable of synthesizing cell constituents from carbon dioxide by means of energy derived from inorganic reactions.

che·mo·au·to·tro·phic

(kē'mō-aw-tō-trof'ik), Pertaining to a chemoautotroph. Synonym(s): chemolithotrophic

che·mo·au·to·tro·phic

(kē'mō-aw-tō-trō'fik) Pertaining to a chemoautotroph.
Synonym(s): chemolithotrophic.

chemoautotrophic

or

chemotrophic

(of an organism) capable of manufacturing organic molecules from carbon dioxide and water by a process of CHEMOSYNTHESIS. For example, Thiobacillus oxidizes hydrogen sulphide to sulphur in order to produce the energy for chemosynthesis. Chemoautotrophic organisms are one form of AUTOTROPH, the other form displaying PHOTOTROPISM. Nitrate bacteria, such as Nitrobacter, and nitrite bacteria, such as Nitrosomonas, which contribute to the NITROGEN CYCLE, also grow chemoautotrophically Nitrobacter obtains the energy by oxidizing nitrite to nitrate, while Nitrosomonas oxidizes ammonia to nitrite.