Metabolism of reduced methylated sulfur compounds in anaerobic sediments and by a pure culture of an estuarine methanogen

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6915278

Kiene, R P; Oremland, R S; Catena, A; Miller, L G; Capone, A G

Addition of dimethylsulfide (DMS), dimethyldisulfide (DMDS), or methane thiol (MSH) to a diversity of anoxic aquatic sediments (e.g., fresh water, estuarine, alkaline/hypersaline) stimulated methane production. The yield of methane recovered from DMS was often 52 to 63%, although high concentrations of DMS (as well as MSH and DMDS) inhibited methanogenesis in some types of sediments. Production of methane from these reduced methylated sulfur compounds was blocked by 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid. Sulfate did not influence the metabolism of millimolar levels of DMS, DMDs, or MSH added to sediments. However, when DMS was added at approx.2-3=M levels as (/sup 14/C)DMS, metabolism by sediments resulted in a /sup 14/CH/sub 4///sup 14/CO/sub 2/ ratio of only 0.06. Addition of molybdate increased the ratio of 1.8, while 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid decreased it to 0, but did not block /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ production. These results indicate the methanogens and sulfate reducers compete for DMS when it is present at low concentrations; however, at high concentrations, DMS is a noncompetitive substrate for methanogens. Metabolism of DMS by sediments resulted in the appearance of MSH as a transient intermediate. A pure culture of an obligately methylotrophic estuarine methanogen was isolated which was capable of growth on DMS. Metabolism of DMS by the culture also resulted in the transient appearance of MSH, but the organism could grow on neither MSH nor DMDS. The culture metabolized (/sup 14/C)-DMS to yield a /sup 14/CH/sub 4///sup 14/CO/sub 2/ ratio of approx. 2.8.

• Research Organization: State Univ. of New York, Stony Brook
• OSTI ID: 6915278
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 52:5; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520101 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- Radiometric Techniques-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
550501 -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
550701* -- Microbiology-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOSYNTHESIS
BROMINE COMPOUNDS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ESTUARIES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GEOCHEMISTRY
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
METALS
METHANE
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
MOLYBDENUM
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRECURSOR
SEDIMENTS
SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA
SURFACE WATERS
SYNTHESIS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS