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Accumulation of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate in a methane-enriched, halogenated hydrocarbon-degrading soil column: implications for microbial community structure and nutritional status

  • Conference paper
Sediment/Water Interactions

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 50))

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Abstract

The prokarotic, endogenous storage polymer poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) accumulated in soil from a methane-enriched, halogenated hydrocarbon-degrading soil column. Based on phospholipid ester-linked fatty acid (PLFA) profiles, this mocrocosm has been previously reported to be significantly enhanced in type II methanotrophs. Two strains analysed of the type II methanotroph Methylobacterium organophilum were found to contain PHB, with PHB/PLFA ratios similar to those determined for the methane-enriched soil column, suggesting that methanotrophic bacteria enriched in the methane-amended column produced PHB. Control soil and sodium azide-inhibited material, in which methanotroph markers were below detection, did not contain PHB. Biochemical assays, based on the differences observed, can be used to monitor shifts in microbial biomass, community structure and nutritional status of systems used to model microbial biotransformation processes. Further manipulative experiments with pure methanotrophic bacteria will increase our understanding of the mechanism by which PHB is produced. This study illustrates, however, that biochemical procedures have the potential to monitor the stimulated populations of a native soil microbial community capable of degrading pollutants. Such data may ultimately provide information to assist in the selection and optimization of favorable conditions for the adaption of pollutant biotransformation processes to aquifers.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Ocanography, CSIRO, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia

    Peter D. Nichols

  2. Institute for Applied Microbiology, University of Tennessee, 10515 Research Drive, Bldg. 1, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37932-2567, USA

    D. C. White

Authors
  1. Peter D. Nichols
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  2. D. C. White
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rawson Academy of Aquatic Science, 404 - 1 Nicholas Street, K1N 7B7, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Peter G. Sly

  2. Stream Ecology Centre, Chisholm Institute of Technology, 3145, Caulfield East, Victoria, Australia

    Barry T. Hart

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© 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Nichols, P.D., White, D.C. (1989). Accumulation of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate in a methane-enriched, halogenated hydrocarbon-degrading soil column: implications for microbial community structure and nutritional status. In: Sly, P.G., Hart, B.T. (eds) Sediment/Water Interactions. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 50. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2376-8_34

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2376-8_34

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-9007-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2376-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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