Real-Time Monitoring of Dynamic Microbial Fe(III) Respiration Metabolism with a Living Cell-Compatible Electron-Sensing Probe

Monitoring microbial metabolism is vital for biomanufacturing processes optimization. However, it remains a grand challenge to offer insight into microbial metabolism due to particularly complex and dynamic processes. Here, we report an electron-sensing probe Zn2GeO4:Mn@Fe3+ for real-time and dynamic monitoring of Fe(III) respiration metabolism. The quenched persistent luminescence of Zn(2)GeO4:Mn@Fe3+ is recovered when Fe3+ accepted electrons from the dynamic Fe(III) respiration metabolism, enabling the real-time monitoring of microbial metabolism. The probe shows the capability to verify the role of related biomolecules in microbial Fe(III) respiration metabolism, to track the dynamic Fe(III) respiration metabolic response to environmental stress and microbial co-culture interactions. Furthermore, the Zn2GeO4:Mn@Fe3+ probe provides guidance for improving biosynthesis efficiency by monitoring Fe redox recycling in microbial co-culture.