Production and fate of methylated sulfur compounds from methionine and dimethylsulfoniopropionate in anoxic salt marsh sediments

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7160843

Kiene, R P; Visscher, P T

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), Vol. 53:10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
09 BIOMASS FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
METHANE
BIOSYNTHESIS
METHIONINE
METABOLISM
SEDIMENTS
CONTAMINATION
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
ANOXIA
MARSHES
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
METHYLATION
SULFUR CYCLE
ALKANES
AMINO ACIDS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BACTERIA
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DRUGS
ECOSYSTEMS
HYDROCARBONS
LIPOTROPIC FACTORS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SYNTHESIS
WETLANDS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
090122 - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)