Back to Search
Start Over
Microbial populations involved in cycling of dimethyl sulfide and methanethiol in freshwater sediments.
- Source :
-
Applied and environmental microbiology [Appl Environ Microbiol] 2001 Mar; Vol. 67 (3), pp. 1044-51. - Publication Year :
- 2001
-
Abstract
- Although several microorganisms that produce and degrade methanethiol (MT) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) have been isolated from various habitats, little is known about the numbers of these microorganisms in situ. This study reports on the identification and quantification of microorganisms involved in the cycling of MT and DMS in freshwater sediments. Sediment incubation studies revealed that the formation of MT and DMS is well balanced with their degradation. MT formation depends on the concentrations of both sulfide and methyl group-donating compounds. A most-probable number (MPN) dilution series with syringate as the growth substrate showed that methylation of sulfide with methyl groups derived from syringate is a commonly occurring process in situ. MT appeared to be primarily degraded by obligately methylotrophic methanogens, which were found in the highest positive dilutions on DMS and mixed substrates (methanol, trimethylamine [TMA], and DMS). Amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of the total DNA isolated from the sediments and of the DNA isolated from the highest positive dilutions of the MPN series (mixed substrates) revealed that the methanogens that are responsible for the degradation of MT, DMS, methanol, and TMA in situ are all phylogenetically closely related to Methanomethylovorans hollandica. This was confirmed by sequence analysis of the product obtained from a nested PCR developed for the selective amplification of the 16S rRNA gene from M. hollandica. The data from sediment incubation experiments, MPN series, and molecular-genetics detection correlated well and provide convincing evidence for the suggested mechanisms for MT and DMS cycling and the common presence of the DMS-degrading methanogen M. hollandica in freshwater sediments.
- Subjects :
- Base Sequence
Biodegradation, Environmental
Colony Count, Microbial
DNA, Archaeal analysis
Deoxyribonuclease HindIII metabolism
Geologic Sediments chemistry
Methanosarcinaceae classification
Methanosarcinaceae genetics
Molecular Sequence Data
Phylogeny
Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S genetics
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Dimethyl Sulfoxide metabolism
Fresh Water microbiology
Geologic Sediments microbiology
Methanosarcinaceae isolation & purification
Methanosarcinaceae metabolism
Sulfhydryl Compounds metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0099-2240
- Volume :
- 67
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Applied and environmental microbiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 11229890
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.67.3.1044-1051.2001