The impact of fermentative organisms on carbon flow in methanogenic systems under constant low-substrate conditions

We compared carbon flow under constant low-substrate conditions (below 20 microM glucose in situ) in laboratory-scale glucose-fed methanogenic bioreactors containing two very different microbial communities that removed chemical oxygen demand at similar rates. One community contained approximately e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Applied microbiology and biotechnology 2001-08, Vol.56 (3-4), p.531-538
Main Authors:	DOLLHOPF, S. L, HASHSHAM, S. A, DAZZO, F. B, HICKEY, R. F, CRIDDLE, C. S, TIEDJE, J. M
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Acetates - metabolism acetic acid Biological and medical sciences Biology of microorganisms of confirmed or potential industrial interest Bioreactors Biotechnology Carbon Carbon - metabolism Chemical oxygen demand Cloning DNA, Ribosomal - analysis Ecosystem Ethanol Ethanol - metabolism Fermentation Food chains Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Glucose Glucose - metabolism lactic acid Methane - metabolism Microbiology Mission oriented research Molecular Sequence Data Physiology and metabolism Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length Propionates - metabolism RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics Sequence Analysis, DNA Spirochaetaceae Spirochaetaceae - classification Spirochaetaceae - genetics Spirochaetaceae - isolation & purification Spirochaetaceae - metabolism Streptococcus Streptococcus - classification Streptococcus - genetics Streptococcus - isolation & purification Streptococcus - metabolism
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Summary:	We compared carbon flow under constant low-substrate conditions (below 20 microM glucose in situ) in laboratory-scale glucose-fed methanogenic bioreactors containing two very different microbial communities that removed chemical oxygen demand at similar rates. One community contained approximately equal proportions of spiral and cocci morphologies, while the other community was dominated by cocci. In the former bioreactor, over 50% of the cloned SSU rRNA genes and the most common SSU rDNA terminal restriction fragment corresponded to Spirochaetaceae-related sequences, while in the latter bioreactor over 50% of the cloned SSU rRNA genes and the most common SSU rDNA terminal restriction fragment corresponded to Streptococcus-related sequences. Carbon flow was assessed by measuring 14C-labeled metabolites derived from a feeding of [U-14C]glucose that did not alter the concentration of glucose in the bioreactors. Acetate and ethanol were detected in the Spirochaetaceae-dominated reactor, whereas acetate and propionate were detected in the Streptococcus-dominated reactor. A spirochete isolated from a Spirochaetaceae-dominated reactor fermented glucose to acetate, ethanol, and small amounts of lactate. Maximum substrate utilization assays carried out on fluid from the same reactor indicated that acetate and ethanol were rapidly utilized by this community. These data indicate that an acetate- and ethanol-based food chain was present in the Spirochaetaceae-dominated bioreactor, while the typical acetate- and propionate-based food chain was prevalent in the Streptococcus-dominated bioreactor.
ISSN:	0175-7598 1432-0614