Reverse electron flow

Reverse electron flow (also known as reverse electron transport) is a mechanism in microbial metabolism. Chemolithotrophs using an electron donor with a higher redox potential than NAD(P)⁺/NAD(P)H, such as nitrite or sulfur compounds, must use energy to reduce NAD(P)⁺. This energy is supplied by consuming proton motive force to drive electrons in a reverse direction through an electron transport chain and is thus the reverse process as forward electron transport. In some cases, the energy consumed in reverse electron transport is five times greater than energy gained from the forward process.^[1] Autotrophs can use this process to supply reducing power for inorganic carbon fixation.

References

1. Kim, B. H.; Gadd, G. M. (2008). Bacterial Physiology and Metabolism. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.