Community dynamics in a nitrate-reducing microbial consortium cultivated with p-alkylated vs. non-p-alkylated aromatic compounds. Issue 1 (10th October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sperfeld, Martin; Diekert, Gabriele; Studenik, Sandra
• Is Part Of: FEMS microbiology ecology. Volume 95:Issue 1(2019)
• Publication Date: 2018-10-10
• Subjects: Denitrification -- Benzoyl-CoA pathway -- BTEX -- Aquifer -- Betaproteobacteria -- Nitrite inhibition; Microbial ecology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.17
• DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiy200
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-6496

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, we established the nitrate-reducing, aromatic compound-degrading enrichment culture pMB18. Its community structure was controlled by the aromatic substrate applied. In the presence of a p -alkylated substrate, microorganisms related to Sulfuritalea, Ignavibacterium and Comamonadaceae were abundant. Non- p -alkylated structural analogues promoted the enrichment of Azoarcus, which was probably favored by the excretion of nitrite. The analysis of the bamA gene, which is a functional marker for anaerobic aromatic compound degradation, as well as a differential abundance analysis suggested the involvement of Sulfuritalea and Comamonadaceae in the degradation of p -alkylated substrates. Members of the genus Azoarcus were assumed to be the key players for the degradation of the non- p -alkylated substrates. A gene cluster encoding a putative 4-methylbenzoyl-CoA reductase, which is supposed to be specific for the dearomatization of p -alkylated benzoyl-CoA intermediates, was detected in culture pMB18 dominated by Sulfuritalea, Ignavibacterium and Comamonadaceae, but not in an Azoarcus -dominated culture. This study allowed insight into a microbial community, whose composition was guided by the aromatic substrate applied. Abstract : The composition of an aromatic compound-degrading microbial community is controlled by the aromatic substrate: a Sulfuritalea / Comamonadacae community outcompetes Azoarcus in the presence of p -alkylated monoaromatics.