Isolation and characterization of some chemoautotrophic Chromatiaceae

Abstract

Isolation and characterization of some chemoautotrophic Chromatiaceae CHAHLUTTE: KAMPF and N. PFENNIG (Ileceived M a y 26, 1986) Three strains of facultatively chemoautotrophic Chromatiaceae were isolated from natural habitats under chemotrophic conditions and identified as Chromatium gracile (strains 23-3 and 25-1) and T h i o c~p~a roseopersicina (strain LABOE). The strains utilized hydrogen and reduced sulfur compounds for photo-and chemolithosutotrophic growth. Ammonium or dinitrogen were utilized as nitrogcn sources for photo-and chemotrophic growth. With most of the organic carbon compounds examined chemoheterotrophic growth was dependend on thc presence of a reduced sulfur compound. The newly isolated strains grew chemoorganotrophically with fumarate, fructose as well as with some short-chain fatty acids and aliphatjc alcohols. The determination of the respiratory activity of Chromatium gracile 25-1 revealed that the utilization of butyrate for chemotrophic growth was not constitutive. The maximal respiratory activity of phototrophically grown Chromatium gracile 25-1 was 2 times higher than that of other facultative cliemotrophic Chromatiaceae. The respiratory activity of the obligately phototrophic Thiocapsa pfennigii was similar to that of phototrophically grown facultatively chemotrophic Chromatiaceae. 33'

Comparative Enzymology of Sulfite Oxidation in Thiocapsa roseopersicina Strains 6311, M1 and BBS under Chemotrophic and Phototrophic Conditions

“…T he rem a in ing 25% of thiosulfate th e re fo re serve as electro n d o n o r for th e red u ctio n o f C 0 2 into cell m aterial. T hese values are com p arab le to th o se d eterm in ed for ch em o lith o au to tro p h ically grow n thiobacilli [23] and facultatively aerobic C h ro m atiaceae [24,25], N o t only grow th yields b ut also grow th rates are red u ced u n d er sem iaerobic conditions. G row th rates of chem otrophically grow n cells w ere in the range of 0.015 t T 1 for T. roseopersicina strain M l to 0.027 h _ 1 for strain BBS and th e re fo re ab o u t 60% low er than those of p h o to tro p h ically grow n cells.…”

Pigments, light penetration, and photosynthetic activity in the multi-layered microbial mats of Great Sippewissett Salt Marsh, Massachusetts

“…While a light-stimulated uptake of NAHCO, was observed in all layers studied, the dark uptake was also high, suggesting the presence of significant chemoautotrophic activity in these mat layers. Chemolithoautotrophic growth in isolates of Chromatium gracile and Thiocapsa roseopersicina can be sustained by hydrogen and reduced sulfur compounds [20]. Since no attempt was made to exclude oxygen during the preparation and incubation of cells in the uptake studies and since 0.1 mM sulfide was included in the incubations, conditions were satisfactory to sustain chemolithoautotrophic activity.…”

Simultaneous phototrophic and chemotrophic growth in the purple sulfur bacterium Thiocapsa roseopersicina M1

“…Likewise, growth of purple sulfur bacteria in the top layer appears not to be inhibited by the presence of oxygen during the day, despite the fact that bacteriochlorophyll a synthesis (BChla) is inhibited under these conditions [16][17][18][19]. It has been reported that T. roseopersicina has the capacity to grow chemotrophically in the presence of oxygen [18][19][20][21][22][23]. More importantly, T. roseopersicina is able to grow fully phototrophically with no more than 20% of the BChla present during continuous anoxic conditions [24,25].…”