Open AccessUtilization of mercapto‐2‐ethanol as medium reductant for determination of the metabolic response of methanogens towards inorganic sulfur compounds
Author(s) -
Bhatnagar L.,
Henriquet M.,
Zeikus J.G.,
Aubert J.P.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1984.tb00715.x
Subject(s) - sulfur , methanobacterium , thiosulfate , sulfite , chemistry , methanogenesis , sulfide , sulfate , ethanol , dithionite , sulfate reducing bacteria , sulfur metabolism , desulfovibrio , hydrogen sulfide , inorganic chemistry , nuclear chemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry , methane , archaea , gene , enzyme
Mercapto‐2‐ethanol was examined as a nontoxic and non‐metabolizable reducing agent for growth of methanogens. It was used as a medium reductant to prove that Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum and Methanobacterium strain ivanov grew with either sulfide or elemental sulfur as the sole source of nutrient sulfur but not with sulfate, thiosulfate, sulfite or dithionite. The later inorganic sulfur sources, except sulfate, were potent inhibitors of growth and methanogenesis at 5 mM. The practical utility of mercapto‐2‐ethanol as a reducing agent and the toxicity of inorganic sulfur sources on metabolic activity of the methanogens are discussed.