Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Applied and Environmental Microbiology logoLink to Applied and Environmental Microbiology
. 1987 Oct;53(10):2343–2352. doi: 10.1128/aem.53.10.2343-2352.1987

Formation and Fate of Fermentation Products in Hot Spring Cyanobacterial Mats

Karen L Anderson 1,†, Timothy A Tayne 1,‡, David M Ward 1,*
PMCID: PMC204111  PMID: 16347455

Abstract

The fate of representative fermentation products (acetate, propionate, butyrate, lactate, and ethanol) in hot spring cyanobacterial mats was investigated. The major fate during incubations in the light was photoassimilation by filamentous bacteria resembling Chloroflexus aurantiacus. Some metabolism of all compounds occurred under dark aerobic conditions. Under dark anaerobic conditions, only lactate was oxidized extensively to carbon dioxide. Extended preincubation under dark anaerobic conditions did not enhance anaerobic catabolism of acetate, propionate, or ethanol. Acetogenesis of butyrate was suggested by the hydrogen sensitivity of butyrate conversion to acetate and by the enrichment of butyrate-degrading acetogenic bacteria. Accumulation of fermentation products which were not catabolized under dark anaerobic conditions revealed their importance. Acetate and propionate were the major fermentation products which accumulated in samples collected at temperatures ranging from 50 to 70°C. Other organic acids and alcohols accumulated to a much lesser extent. Fermentation occurred mainly in the top 4 mm of the mat. Exposure to light decreased the accumulation of acetate and presumably of other fermentation products. The importance of interspecies hydrogen transfer was investigated by comparing fermentation product accumulation at a 65°C site, with naturally high hydrogen levels, and a 55°C site, where active methanogenesis prevented significant hydrogen accumulation. There was a greater relative accumulation of reduced products, notably ethanol, in the 65°C mat.

Full text

PDF
2343

Images in this article

2346Image
on p.2346

Selected References

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

  1. Boone D. R., Bryant M. P. Propionate-Degrading Bacterium, Syntrophobacter wolinii sp. nov. gen. nov., from Methanogenic Ecosystems. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1980 Sep;40(3):626–632. doi: 10.1128/aem.40.3.626-632.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Doemel W. N., Brock T. D. Bacterial stromatolites: origin of laminations. Science. 1974 Jun 7;184(4141):1083–1085. doi: 10.1126/science.184.4141.1083. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Doemel W. N., Brock T. D. Structure, growth, and decomposition of laminated algal-bacterial mats in alkaline hot springs. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1977 Oct;34(4):433–452. doi: 10.1128/aem.34.4.433-452.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Henson J. M., Bordeaux F. M., Rivard C. J., Smith P. H. Quantitative influences of butyrate or propionate on thermophilic production of methane from biomass. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1986 Feb;51(2):288–292. doi: 10.1128/aem.51.2.288-292.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Henson J. M., Smith P. H. Isolation of a Butyrate-Utilizing Bacterium in Coculture with Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum from a Thermophilic Digester. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1985 Jun;49(6):1461–1466. doi: 10.1128/aem.49.6.1461-1466.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. 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]
  7. Jørgensen B. B., Revsbech N. P. Colorless Sulfur Bacteria, Beggiatoa spp. and Thiovulum spp., in O(2) and H(2)S Microgradients. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1983 Apr;45(4):1261–1270. doi: 10.1128/aem.45.4.1261-1270.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. King G. M., Klug M. J. Glucose metabolism in sediments of a eutrophic lake: tracer analysis of uptake and product formation. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1982 Dec;44(6):1308–1317. doi: 10.1128/aem.44.6.1308-1317.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lovley D. R., Klug M. J. Intermediary metabolism of organic matter in the sediments of a eutrophic lake. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1982 Mar;43(3):552–560. doi: 10.1128/aem.43.3.552-560.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Mackie R. I., Bryant M. P. Metabolic Activity of Fatty Acid-Oxidizing Bacteria and the Contribution of Acetate, Propionate, Butyrate, and CO(2) to Methanogenesis in Cattle Waste at 40 and 60 degrees C. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1981 Jun;41(6):1363–1373. doi: 10.1128/aem.41.6.1363-1373.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. McInerney M. J., Bryant M. P., Hespell R. B., Costerton J. W. Syntrophomonas wolfei gen. nov. sp. nov., an Anaerobic, Syntrophic, Fatty Acid-Oxidizing Bacterium. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1981 Apr;41(4):1029–1039. doi: 10.1128/aem.41.4.1029-1039.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Revsbech N. P., Ward D. M. Microelectrode studies of interstitial water chemistry and photosynthetic activity in a hot spring microbial mat. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1984 Aug;48(2):270–275. doi: 10.1128/aem.48.2.270-275.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Sandbeck K. A., Ward D. M. Fate of immediate methane precursors in low-sulfate, hot-spring algal-bacterial mats. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1981 Mar;41(3):775–782. doi: 10.1128/aem.41.3.775-782.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Sandbeck K. A., Ward D. M. Temperature adaptations in the terminal processes of anaerobic decomposition of yellowstone national park and icelandic hot spring microbial mats. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1982 Oct;44(4):844–851. doi: 10.1128/aem.44.4.844-851.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Sørensen J., Christensen D., Jørgensen B. B. Volatile Fatty acids and hydrogen as substrates for sulfate-reducing bacteria in anaerobic marine sediment. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1981 Jul;42(1):5–11. doi: 10.1128/aem.42.1.5-11.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Tannock G. W. Demonstration of mucosa-associated microbial populations in the colons of mice. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1987 Aug;53(8):1965–1968. doi: 10.1128/aem.53.8.1965-1968.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Varel V. H., Isaacson H. R., Bryant M. P. Thermophilic methane production from cattle waste. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1977 Feb;33(2):298–307. doi: 10.1128/aem.33.2.298-307.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Walter M. R., Bauld J., Brock T. D. Siliceous algal and bacterial stromatolites in hot spring and geyser effluents of yellowstone national park. Science. 1972 Oct 27;178(4059):402–405. doi: 10.1126/science.178.4059.402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Ward D. M., Olson G. J. Terminal processes in the anaerobic degradation of an algal-bacterial mat in a high-sulfate hot spring. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1980 Jul;40(1):67–74. doi: 10.1128/aem.40.1.67-74.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Ward D. M. Thermophilic methanogenesis in a hot-spring algal-bacterial mat (71 to 30 degrees C). Appl Environ Microbiol. 1978 Jun;35(6):1019–1026. doi: 10.1128/aem.35.6.1019-1026.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Weimer P. J., Wagner L. W., Knowlton S., Ng T. K. Thermophilic anaerobic bacteria which ferment hemicellulose: characterization of organisms and identification of plasmids. Arch Microbiol. 1984 May;138(1):31–36. doi: 10.1007/BF00425403. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Wiegel J., Ljungdahl L. G., Rawson J. R. Isolation from soil and properties of the extreme thermophile Clostridium thermohydrosulfuricum. J Bacteriol. 1979 Sep;139(3):800–810. doi: 10.1128/jb.139.3.800-810.1979. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Zeikus J. G., Ben-Bassat A., Hegge P. W. Microbiology of methanogenesis in thermal, volcanic environments. J Bacteriol. 1980 Jul;143(1):432–440. doi: 10.1128/jb.143.1.432-440.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Zeikus J. G. Chemical and fuel production by anaerobic bacteria. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1980;34:423–464. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.34.100180.002231. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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

RESOURCES