Saprotrophic soil fungus dissolves lithium lepidolite through inositol rescue metabolism

作者：Sandra LaBonte, C. S. Perdue, T. W. Wietsma, Vanessa Paurus, Young‐Mo Kim, Hsin-Mei Kao, Zihua Zhu, Erin Nuccio, Jennifer Pett‐Ridge, Mary Lipton, Arunima Bhattacharjee · 发表于：bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.64898/2026.07.28.741394 · 研究领域：Extraction and Separation Processes、Metal Extraction and Bioleaching、Clay minerals and soil interactions

ABSTRACT Microbial weathering of minerals represents a key biogeochemical process through which microorganisms access essential nutrients locked within rock and ore substrates. In this study, we investigated the metabolic response of a model fungus during growth on lithium (Li) ore to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning biologically mediated mineral weathering and subsequent metal mobilization. Our results revealed a distinct metabolic shift in the fungus when cultivated on Li ore, characterized by altered patterns of organic acid production and energy metabolism. This shift coincided with measurable weathering of the Li ore matrix and the consequent release of soluble Li into the surrounding environment, demonstrating a direct link between fungal metabolic reprogramming and mineral breakdown. Importantly, these observations are consistent with metabolic shifts documented in previous studies of mineral weathering by this fungus, suggesting that such responses constitute a conserved and reproducible strategy employed during the colonization of mineral substrates. Although the present work was conducted using a single model microorganism under controlled conditions, the findings carry broader ecological implications. Natural microbial communities inhabiting mineral-rich environments may undergo analogous metabolic shifts when weathering minerals to acquire limiting nutrients, thereby contributing to large-scale elemental cycling and metal release. Understanding these processe...