Inhibition experiments on anaerobic methane oxidation

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5687478

Alperin, M J; Reeburgh, W S

Anaerobic methane oxidation is a general process important in controlling fluxes of methane from anoxic marine sediments. The responsible organism has not been isolated, and little is known about the electron acceptors and substrates involved in the process. Laboratory evidence indicates that sulfate reducers and methanogens are able to oxidize small quantities of methane. Field evidence suggests anaerobic methane oxidation may be linked to sulfate reduction. Experiments with specific inhibitors for sulfate reduction (molybdate), methanogenesis (2-bromoethanesulfonic acid), and acetate utilization (fluoroacetate) were performed on marine sediments from the zone of methane oxidation to determine whether sulfate-reducing bacteria or methanogenic bacteria are responsible for methane oxidation. The inhibition experiment results suggest that methane oxidation in anoxic marine sediments is not directly mediated by sulfate-reducing bacteria or methanogenic bacteria. Our results are consistent with two possibilities: anaerobic methane oxidation may be mediated by an unknown organism or a consortium involving an unknown methane oxidizer and sulfate-reducing bacteria.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks
• OSTI ID: 5687478
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 50:4; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550700* -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
BACTERIA
BIOCHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
HYDROCARBONS
INHIBITION
METHANE
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REDUCTION
SEDIMENTS
SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS