Diel Variations in Carbon Metabolism by Green Nonsulfur-Like Bacteria in Alkaline Siliceous Hot Spring Microbial Mats from Yellowstone National Park
Marcel T. J. van der Meer, Stefan Schouten, Mary M. Bateson, Ulrich Nübel, Andrea Wieland, Michael Kühl, Jan W. de Leeuw, Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté, and David M. Ward
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2005
Abstract
Green nonsulfur-like bacteria (GNSLB) in hot spring microbial mats are thought to be mainly photoheterotrophic,
using cyanobacterial metabolites as carbon sources. However, the stable carbon isotopic composition
of typical Chloroflexus and Roseiflexus lipids suggests photoautotrophic metabolism of GNSLB. One
possible explanation for this apparent discrepancy might be that GNSLB fix inorganic carbon only during
certain times of the day. In order to study temporal variability in carbon metabolism by GNSLB, labeling
experiments with [13C]bicarbonate, [14C]bicarbonate, and [13C]acetate were performed during different times
of the day. [14C]bicarbonate labeling indicated that during the morning, incorporation of label was light
dependent and that both cyanobacteria and GNSLB were involved in bicarbonate uptake. 13C-labeling experiments
indicated that during the morning, GNSLB incorporated labeled bicarbonate at least to the same degree
as cyanobacteria. The incorporation of [13C]bicarbonate into specific lipids could be stimulated by the addition
of sulfide or hydrogen, which both were present in the morning photic zone. The results suggest that GNSLB
have the potential for photoautotrophic metabolism during low-light periods. In high-light periods, inorganic
carbon was incorporated primarily into Cyanobacteria-specific lipids. The results of a pulse-labeling experiment
were consistent with overnight transfer of label to GNSLB, which could be interrupted by the addition of
unlabeled acetate and glycolate. In addition, we observed direct incorporation of [13C]acetate into GNSLB
lipids in the morning. This suggests that GNSLB also have a potential for photoheterotrophy in situ.
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