Diversity of Methanotroph Communities in a Basalt Aquifer

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 2004 · FEMS Microbiology Ecology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.femsec.2004.02.001· OSTI ID:912229

Newby, D T; Reed, D W; Petzke, L M; Igoe, A L; Delwiche, M E; McKinley, J D; Roberto, F F; Colwell, F S

Methanotrophic bacteria play an important role in global cycling of carbon and co-metabolism of contaminants. Methanotrophs from pristine regions of the Snake River Plain Aquifer (SRPA; Idaho, USA) were studied in order to gain insight into the native groundwater communities' genetic potential to carry out TCE co-metabolism. Wells were selected that were proximal to a TCE plume believed to be undergoing natural attenuation. Methane concentrations ranged from 1 to >1000 nM. Carbon isotope ratios and diversity data together suggest that the SRPA contains active communities of methanotrophs that oxidize microbially produced methane. Microorganisms removed from groundwater by filtration were used as inocula for enrichments or frozen immediately and DNA was subsequently extracted for molecular characterization. Primers that specifically target methanotroph 16S rRNA genes or genes that code for subunits of soluble or particulate methane monooxygenase, mmoX and pmoA, respectively, were used to characterize the indigenous methanotrophs via PCR, cloning, RFLP analysis, and sequencing. Type I methanotroph clones aligned with Methylomonas, Methylocaldum, and Methylobacter sequences and a distinct 16S rRNA phylogenetic lineage grouped near Methylobacter. The majority of clone sequences in type II methanotroph 16S rRNA, pmoA, and mmoX gene libraries grouped closely with sequences in the Methylocystis genus. A subset of the type II methanotroph clones from the aquifer had sequences that aligned most closely to Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b and Methylocystis spp., known TCE-co-metabolizing methanotrophs.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE - EM
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-99ID13727
• OSTI ID: 912229
• Report Number(s): INEEL/JOU-03-01165
• Journal Information: FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Journal Name: FEMS Microbiology Ecology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 48; ISSN 0168-6496; ISSN FMECEZ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AQUIFERS
BASALT
CARBON
CARBON ISOTOPES
CLONING
COMMUNITIES
DNA
FILTRATION
GENES
GENETICS
METHANE
METHANOTROPHIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
Methane monooxygenase
Methanotrophs
NATURAL ATTENUATION
PARTICULATES
PLUMES
SNAKE RIVER PLAIN
Sequence Diversity
TARGETS
pMMO
sMMO