Stable-isotope analysis of a combined nitrification-denitrification sustained by thermophilic methanotrophs under low-oxygen conditions

• Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Vol. 63; no. 2; pp. 474 - 481
• Main Authors: Pel, R. (Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Nieuwersluis, The Netherlands.), Oldenhuis, R, Brand, W, Vos, A, Gottschal, J.C, Zwart, K.B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01.02.1997
• Subjects: BACTERIA METANOGENA; BACTERIE METHANOGENE; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; COMPOSTAGE; DENITRIFICACION; DENITRIFICATION; ELABORACION DEL COMPOST; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Instituut voor Agrobiologisch en Bodemvruchtbaarheidsonderzoek; Isotopes; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Microbial engineering. Fermentation and microbial culture technology; Microbiology; MICROORGANISME THERMOPHILE; MICROORGANISMOS TERMOFILOS; NITRIFICACION; NITRIFICATION; Oxygen; Research Institute for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility; Simulation; Methylococcus; Oxygen; Methylococcaceae; Biological marker; Phospholipid; Thermophily; Radioactive tracers; Fatty acids; Ammonia; Bioreactor; Analysis method; Limiting factor; Nitrification; Microorganism culture; Denitrification; Bacteria; Oxidation
• ISSN: 0099-2240; 1098-5336
• DOI: 10.1128/aem.63.2.474-481.1997

To simulate growth conditions experienced by microbiota at O2-limited interfaces of organic matter in compost, an experimental system capable of maintaining dual limitations of oxygen and carbon for extended periods, i.e., a pO2-auxostat, has been used. 15N tracer studies on thermophilic (53 degrees C) decomposition processes occurring in manure-straw aggregates showed the emission of dinitrogen gas from the reactor as a result of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification at low pO2 values (0.1 to 2.0%, vol/vol). The N loss was confirmed by nitrogen budget studies of the system. Depending on the imposed PO2, 0.6 to 1.4 mmol of N/day (i.e., 20 to 40% of input N) was emitted as N2. When the PO2 was raised, the rates of both nitrification and denitrification increased instantaneously, indicating that ammonia oxidation was limited by oxygen. In auxostats permanently running at PO2 greater than or equal to 2% (vol/vol), the free ammonium pool was almost completely oxidized and was converted to nitrite plus nitrate and N2 gas. Labelling of the auxostat with [13C]carbonate was conducted to reveal whether nitrification was of autotrophic or heterotrophic origin. Incorporation of 13CO2 into population-specific cellular compounds was evaluated by profiling the saponifiable phospholipid fatty acids (FAs) by using capillary gas chromatography and subsequently analyzing the 13C/12C ratios of the individual FAs, after their combustion to CO2, by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Apart from the observed label incorporation into FAs originating from a microflora belonging to the genus Methylococcus (type X group), supporting nitrification of a methylotrophic nature, this analysis also corroborated the absence of truly autotrophic nitrifying populations. Nevertheless, the extent to which ammonia oxidation continued to exist in this thermophilic community suggested that a major energy gain could be associated with it