Marine Ecology Progress Series · 1992 · 78 citations · 8 references
Life SciencesMarine SciencesMicrobiologyMarine EcologyMarine MicrobiologyMicrobial EcologyAquatic Microbial EcologyBacterial MetabolismBiodegradationMarine Microbial MetabolismMicrobial BiogeochemistryOpen Ocean MicrobiologyCarbon Source UtilizationCulture SubstratesDimethyl Sulfide ChemistryDimethyl Sulfide ProductionDimethylsulfoniopropionate DegradationEnrichmentMarine Bacterial Degradation Of Organic MatterMarine Bacterial Metabolism
Populations of d~methylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) degrading bacteria were enumerated in Caribbean Sea waters using Most Probable Number (MPN) methodology.DMSP a n d 3-methiolpropionate (MMPA), a n intermediate in the demethylation pathway of DMSP degradation, were used as enrichment substrates.Two metabolically distinct populations were obtained: DMSP cleavers, which produced dimethyl sulfide (DMS) from DMSP, and demethylators of DMSP, which produced 3-mercaptopropionate (MPA) and/or methanethiol (MSH) from DMSP or MMPA.Demethylating populations were distinct from DMS producers and formed 5 to 66 % of total DMSP degraders.DMSP utilizers compr~zed about 10 % of the total bacteria (MPNs on glucose-acetate) ind~cating the potential of DMSP as a carbon source for bacteria in the euphot~c zone.
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