Production and fate of methylated sulfur compounds from methionine and dimethylsulfoniopropionate in anoxic salt marsh sediments
Anoxic salt marsh sediments were amended with DL-methionine and dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). Microbial metabolism of methionine yielded methane thiol (MSH) as the major volatile organosulfur product, with the formation of lesser amounts of dimethylsulfide (DMS). Biological transformation of DMSP resulted in the rapid release of DMS and only small amounts of MSH. Experiments with microbial inhibitors indicated that production of MSH from methionine was carried out by procaryotic organisms, probably sulfate-reducing bacteria. Methane-producing bacteria did not metabolize methionine. The involvement of specific groups of organisms in DMSP hydrolysis could not be determined with the inhibitors used, because DMSP was hydrolyzed in all samples except those which were autoclaved. Unamended sediment slurries, prepared from Spartina alterniflora sediments, contained significant concentrations of DMS. Endogenous methylated sulfur compounds and those produced from added methionine and DMSP were consumed by sediment microbes. Both sulfate-reducing and methane-producing bacteria were involved in DMS and MSH consumption. Methanogenesis was stimulated by the volatile organosulfur compounds released from methionine and DMSP. However, apparent competition for these compounds exists between methanogens and sulfate reducers. At low (1 ..mu..M) concentrations of methionine, the terminal S-methyl group was metabolized almost exclusively to CO/sub 2/ and only small amounts of CH/sub 4/. At higher concentrations of methionine, the proportion of the methyl-sulfur groups converted to CH/sub 4/ increased.
- Research Organization:
- State Univ. of New York, Stony Brook (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7160843
- Journal Information:
- Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 53:10; ISSN AEMID
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Marine microbial production of dimethylsulfide from dissolved dimethylsulfoniopropionate. Doctoral thesis
Marine microbial production of dimethylsulfide from dissolved dimethylsulfoniopropionate. Ph. D. Thesis
Related Subjects
090122 -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKANES
AMINO ACIDS
ANOXIA
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BACTERIA
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTAMINATION
DRUGS
ECOSYSTEMS
HYDROCARBONS
LIPOTROPIC FACTORS
MARSHES
METABOLISM
METHANE
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
METHIONINE
METHYLATION
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SEDIMENTS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR CYCLE
SYNTHESIS
WETLANDS