A metabolic process allowing for anaerobic degradation of benzoate to acetate is diagrammed below. This metabolism can happen because

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The diagram shows that the catabolism of benzoate by the cell on the left produces hydrogen, which is then used by the cell on the right to reduce sulfate. This process is known as syntrophy and is an example of microbial cooperation for energy production. The reduction of sulfate by the cell on the right is energetically unfavorable without the input of hydrogen from the cell on the left, which produces excess hydrogen during the anaerobic degradation of benzoate. This metabolic process allows for the anaerobic degradation of benzoate to acetate.

A Metabolic Process Allowing for Anaerobic Degradation of Benzoate to Acetate