Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and rusticyanin...?

Question

Please, explain the enzimatic mechanism... how does rusticyanin works? please, step by step... an exposition is in order and I get confused with the mechanism...
Thanks!

Kyuketsuki: about the biochemical process, like how exactly the oxidation of Fe occurs... thanks so much!

Answer 1

Thiobacillous feroxidans, gains energy by oxidising sulfur to form sulfurous acid, (H2SO3), and sulfuric acid. (H2SO4)
Those acidic byproducts attack the iron and steel of popes in the ground. Where iron Fe is converted to Fe2O3 (hematite, or red iron oxide). The reaction is even more efficient than normal in that the bacteria are probably a constituent of the biofilm slime that attaches to the pipe. Hence their byrduct acids are less likely to diffuse into the surrounding soil, but stay next to the pipe in a higher concentration. This reaction causes billions of dollars in damage to buried pipes yearly.
Dan the Answers-Man

Answer 2

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans is a bacterium capable of growth solely on the energy available from the oxidation of iron 2+ to iron 3+ at a low pH (2). When this occurs, it fixes its own CO2 and N2 but also produces rusticyanin (blue copper protein).

Are you talking about bioleaching process or more biochemical like unfolding of the protein step by step?

Here is a link which talks (more like steps) about the Rusticycanin cytochrome 4 complex http://bip.cnrs-mrs.fr/bip09/tb.html