Methylated sulfur compounds in microbial mats: In situ concentrations and metabolism by a colorless sulfur bacterium

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5382534

Visscher, P T ^[1]; Quist, P; vanGemerden, H ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Groningen, Haren (Netherlands) Netherlands Inst. for Sea Research, Den Burg (Netherlands)
2. Univ. of Groningen, Haren (Netherlands)

The concentrations of the volatile organic sulfur compounds methanethiol, dimethyl disulfide, and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and the viable population capable of DMS utilization in laminated microbial ecosystems were evaluated. Significant levels of DMS and dimethyl disulfide (maximum concentrations of 220 and 24 nmol cm{sup 3} of sediment{sup {minus}1}, respectively) could be detected only at the top 20 mm of the microbial mat, whereas methanethiol was found only at depth horizons from 20 to 50 mm (maximum concentrations of 42 nmol cm{sup 3} of sediment{sup {minus}1}). DMS concentrations in the surface layer doubled after cold hydrolysis of its precursor, dimethylsulfoniopropioinate. Most-probable-number counts revealed 2.2 {times} 10{sup 5} cells cm{sup 3} of sediment{sup {minus}1}, in the 0- to 5-mm depth horizon, capable of growth on DMS as the sole source of energy. An obligately chemolithoautotrophic bacillus designated strain T5 was isolated from the top layer of the marine sediment. Continuous culture studies in which DMS was the growth-limiting substrate revealed a maximum specific growth rate of 0.10 h{sup {minus}1} and a saturation constant of 90 {mu}mol liter{sup {minus}1} for aerobic growth on this substrate.

• OSTI ID: 5382534
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States), Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States) Vol. 57:6; ISSN 0099-2240; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090900 -- Biomass Fuels-- Processing-- (1990-)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540310* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
AEROBIC CONDITIONS
BACILLUS
BACTERIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTINUOUS CULTURE
GROWTH
METABOLISM
METHYLATION
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SEDIMENTS