Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Applied and Environmental Microbiology logoLink to Applied and Environmental Microbiology
. 1988 Jan;54(1):130–136. doi: 10.1128/aem.54.1.130-136.1988

Methanogenesis from Methylated Amines in a Hypersaline Algal Mat †

Gary M King 1
PMCID: PMC202409  PMID: 16347519

Abstract

Methane ebullition and high rates of methane production were observed in sediments of a hypersaline pond (180‰) which contained sulfate in excess of 100 mM. The highest rates of methane production were observed in surface sediments associated with an algal mat dominated by a Spirulina sp. The mat contained a methylated amine, glycine betaine (GBT), at levels which accounted for up to 20% of the total mat nitrogen. GBT was apparently the source of trimethylamine (TMA), which was also present in the sediment at relatively high concentrations. Patterns of substrate metabolism by the methanogenic populations in sediment slurries suggested that TMA was a major methane precursor. Neither exogenous hydrogen nor acetate stimulated methanogenesis, while addition of a variety of amines including TMA, trimethylamine oxide, GBT, and choline resulted in substantial increases with yields of >70%. The temperature optimum for methanogenesis in this system was 45 to 55°C, which coincided with the observed sediment temperature. Patterns and rates of methane production in this and other hypersaline algal mats may be determined by a complex interaction between salinity, the use of methylated amines for osmoregulation by algae, and the formation of TMA by fermentation.

Full text

PDF
130

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Dacey J. W., Wakeham S. G. Oceanic dimethylsulfide: production during zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton. Science. 1986 Sep 19;233(4770):1314–1316. doi: 10.1126/science.233.4770.1314. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Hippe H., Caspari D., Fiebig K., Gottschalk G. Utilization of trimethylamine and other N-methyl compounds for growth and methane formation by Methanosarcina barkeri. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1979 Jan;76(1):494–498. doi: 10.1073/pnas.76.1.494. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Jorgensen B. B., Cohen Y., Des Marais D. J. Photosynthetic action spectra and adaptation to spectral light distribution in a benthic cyanobacterial mat. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1987 Apr;53(4):879–886. doi: 10.1128/aem.53.4.879-886.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Jørgensen B. B., Revsbech N. P., Blackburn T. H., Cohen Y. Diurnal cycle of oxygen and sulfide microgradients and microbial photosynthesis in a cyanobacterial mat sediment. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1979 Jul;38(1):46–58. doi: 10.1128/aem.38.1.46-58.1979. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Kiene R. P., Oremland R. S., Catena A., Miller L. G., Capone D. G. Metabolism of reduced methylated sulfur compounds in anaerobic sediments and by a pure culture of an estuarine methanogen. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1986 Nov;52(5):1037–1045. doi: 10.1128/aem.52.5.1037-1045.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. King G. M., Klug M. J., Lovley D. R. Metabolism of acetate, methanol, and methylated amines in intertidal sediments of lowes cove, maine. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1983 Jun;45(6):1848–1853. doi: 10.1128/aem.45.6.1848-1853.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. King G. M. Metabolism of trimethylamine, choline, and glycine betaine by sulfate-reducing and methanogenic bacteria in marine sediments. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1984 Oct;48(4):719–725. doi: 10.1128/aem.48.4.719-725.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Martens C. S., Berner R. A. Methane production in the interstitial waters of sulfate-depleted marine sediments. Science. 1974 Sep 27;185(4157):1167–1169. doi: 10.1126/science.185.4157.1167. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Mathrani I. M., Boone D. R. Isolation and characterization of a moderately halophilic methanogen from a solar saltern. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1985 Jul;50(1):140–143. doi: 10.1128/aem.50.1.140-143.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. McBride B. C., Wolfe R. S. Biosynthesis of dimethylarsine by Methanobacterium. Biochemistry. 1971 Nov;10(23):4312–4317. doi: 10.1021/bi00799a024. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Mountfort D. O., Asher R. A., Mays E. L., Tiedje J. M. Carbon and electron flow in mud and sandflat intertidal sediments at delaware inlet, nelson, new zealand. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1980 Apr;39(4):686–694. doi: 10.1128/aem.39.4.686-694.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Müller E., Fahlbusch K., Walther R., Gottschalk G. Formation of N,N-Dimethylglycine, Acetic Acid, and Butyric Acid from Betaine by Eubacterium limosum. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1981 Sep;42(3):439–445. doi: 10.1128/aem.42.3.439-445.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Naumann E., Hippe H., Gottschalk G. Betaine: New Oxidant in the Stickland Reaction and Methanogenesis from Betaine and l-Alanine by a Clostridium sporogenes-Methanosarcina barkeri Coculture. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1983 Feb;45(2):474–483. doi: 10.1128/aem.45.2.474-483.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Oremland R. S., Marsh L., Desmarais D. J. Methanogenesis in big soda lake, nevada: an alkaline, moderately hypersaline desert lake. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1982 Feb;43(2):462–468. doi: 10.1128/aem.43.2.462-468.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Paterek J. R., Smith P. H. Isolation and characterization of a halophilic methanogen from great salt lake. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1985 Oct;50(4):877–881. doi: 10.1128/aem.50.4.877-881.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Sowers K. R., Ferry J. G. Isolation and Characterization of a Methylotrophic Marine Methanogen, Methanococcoides methylutens gen. nov., sp. nov. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1983 Feb;45(2):684–690. doi: 10.1128/aem.45.2.684-690.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Zeikus J. G., Winfrey M. R. Temperature limitation of methanogenesis in aquatic sediments. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1976 Jan;31(1):99–107. doi: 10.1128/aem.31.1.99-107.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied and Environmental Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES