1. Acquisition of elemental sulfur by sulfur-oxidising Sulfolobales.
- Author
-
Fernandes-Martins MC, Springer C, Colman DR, and Boyd ES
- Subjects
- Hydrogen Sulfide metabolism, Sulfides metabolism, Sulfolobaceae metabolism, Sulfolobaceae genetics, Sulfur metabolism, Oxidation-Reduction, Hot Springs microbiology
- Abstract
Elemental sulfur (S
8 0 -oxidising members of the Sulfolobales reveal a patchy distribution of genes encoding sulfur oxygenase reductase (SOR), an S8 0 -oxidising members of the Sulfolobales reveal a patchy distribution of genes encoding sulfur oxygenase reductase (SOR), an S8 0 during growth and one that did not. The genomes of each strain encoded different sulfur metabolism enzymes, with only one encoding SOR. Dialysis membrane experiments showed that direct contact is not required for S8 0 oxidation. Here, we report the S8 0 -dependent growth of two Sulfolobales strains previously isolated from acidic hot springs in Yellowstone National Park, one of which associated with bulk S8 0 during growth and one that did not. The genomes of each strain encoded different sulfur metabolism enzymes, with only one encoding SOR. Dialysis membrane experiments showed that direct contact is not required for S8 0 oxidation in the SOR-encoding strain. This is attributed to the generation of hydrogen sulfide (H2 inhibited the growth of both strains. These results implicate alternative strategies to acquire and metabolise sulfur in Sulfolobales and have implications for their distribution and ecology in their hot spring habitats.8 0 disproportionation that can diffuse out of the cell to solubilise bulk S8 0 to form soluble polysulfides (Sx 2- ) and/or S8 0 nanoparticles that readily diffuse across dialysis membranes. The Sulfolobales strain lacking SOR required direct contact to oxidise S8 0 , which could be overcome by the addition of H2 S. High concentrations of S8 0 inhibited the growth of both strains. These results implicate alternative strategies to acquire and metabolise sulfur in Sulfolobales and have implications for their distribution and ecology in their hot spring habitats., (© 2024 The Author(s). Environmental Microbiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)- Published
- 2024
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