The immobilization of quinone compounds is regarded as a promising strategy to accelerate anaerobic decolorization of xenobiotic compounds azo dyes in the presence of quinone-reducing microorganisms. However, little is known about the basic response of these microorganisms to immobilized quinones in the presence of azo dyes. In the present study, whole-genome DNA microarrays were used to investigate a quinone-reducing bacterium Escherichia coli K-12 transcription response to immobilized anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQS(im)) reduction and azo dye acid red 18 (AR 18) decolorization. Transcriptome analysis showed that AQS(im) was more accessible for the cells of E. coli K-12 than AR 18. Despite there being some differences between AQS(im) and soluble AQS mediated decolorization of AR 18, AQS(im) reduction and AR 18 decolorization, more similarity could be observed in the four processes. Among over 60 % shared genes, several groups of genes exhibited high expression levels, including those genes encoding terminal reductases, menaquinone biosynthesis, formate dehydrogenases and outer membrane proteins. Especially, nrfABCD, frdBCD and dsmABC encoding terminal reductases were significantly upregulated. Further gene deletion experiments demonstrated that the above three groups of genes were involved in AQS(im)-mediated AR 18 decolorization. In addition, significant upregulation of stress response genes was observed, which indicated the adaptation of E. coli K-12 to AQS(im) and AR 18 exposures.