chemoorganoautotrophy

Chemoorganoautotrophy is a metabolic strategy employed by certain microorganisms. It combines two distinct nutritional modes: chemoorganotrophy and autotrophy. Chemoorganotrophs obtain energy from the oxidation of organic compounds. Autotrophs, on the other hand, are organisms that can produce their own food, typically by fixing inorganic carbon dioxide into organic matter. Therefore, chemoorganoautotrophs utilize organic compounds as their source of energy while simultaneously fixing carbon dioxide to build their cellular biomass. This means they break down organic molecules to power their metabolic processes and use inorganic carbon as their sole carbon source for growth.

This metabolic pathway is relatively uncommon compared to other forms of nutrition. While many organisms are chemoorganotrophs (like most animals and fungi) or autotrophs (like plants and cyanobacteria), the combination of both is specialized. Organisms exhibiting chemoorganoautotrophy often inhabit environments where organic compounds are readily available as electron donors, but inorganic carbon is the primary source for biosynthesis. Examples of such environments might include certain soil or sediment habitats, or specific symbiotic relationships. The study of chemoorganoautotrophy provides insight into the diverse metabolic capabilities of life and the biogeochemical cycles within ecosystems.