Thompson, Andrew Sydney (1995) The microbial oxidation of methanesulfonic acid in the marine environment. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The biogeochemical transformations related to
methanesulfonic acid (MSA) formation and degradation
are discussed, with reference to the role of marine
bacteria and the phylogeny and biochemistry of
methylotrophic bacteria are briefly reviewed. The aims
of the work presented were [i] to isolate novel MSA
utilising bacteria from both seawater and freshwater
samples, [ii] to characterise these isolates and [iii]
to elucidate the mechanisms by which MSA is
metabolised in these isolates.
Isolation procedures for the enrichment of MSA-oxidizing
bacterial from a wide range of seawater and
freshwater sites, are described. Four methylotrophic
bacterial strains, TR3, PSCB4 (marine isolates), FW2
and FW6 (freshwater isolates), capable of growth on
MSA as a sole carbon source were isolated from the
environment. MSA metabolism in strains TR3 and PSCB4
was initiated by an inducible NADB-dependant monooxygenase,
which cleaved MSA into formaldehyde and
sulfite. Formaldehyde was assimilated via the serine
pathway. Cell suspensions of bacteria grown on MSA
completely oxidized MSA to carbon dioxide and sulfite
with a MSA: Oxygen stoichiometry of 1.0: 2.0. Oxygen
electrode-substrate studies indicated the
dissimilation of formaldehyde to formate and C02 for
energy generation. Methanol was not an intermediate in
MSA metabolism, although the strains could grow on
methanol and other one-carbon compounds, as well as a
variety of heterotrophic substrates. Initial studies
of strains FW2 and FW6 indicated that they probably
metabolised MSA in a similar way to the marine
strains. Carbon dioxide was not fixed by ribulose
bisphosphate carboxylase in strains TR3 and PSCB4.
These novel facultative methylotrophs have the ability
to mineralize MSA and may play an important role in
the cycling of global sulfur, since MSA can be a major
product from the oxidation of DMS, the principal
biogeochemical organosulfur gas in the environment.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	Q Science > QD Chemistry Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Oxidation , Marine bacteria , Marine microbiology , Biogeochemistry
Official Date:	November 1995
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Biological Sciences
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Murrell, Colin ; Owens, Nick
Extent:	xxiv, 207 leaves
Language:	eng

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