Open AccessAnaerobic growth of halophilic archaeobacteria by reduction of dimethysulfoxide and trimethylamine N ‐oxide
Author(s) -
Oren Aharon,
Trüper Hans G.
Publication year - 1990
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.1574-6968.1990.tb03772.x
Subject(s) - trimethylamine , trimethylamine n oxide , halophile , chemistry , nitrite , anaerobic exercise , nitrate , halobacterium , anaerobic respiration , electron acceptor , biochemistry , bacteria , biology , organic chemistry , physiology , genetics
Most representatives of the halophilic arachaeobacterial genera Halobacterium, Haloarcula and Haloferax tested were able to reduce dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) to dimethylsulfide (DMS) and trimethylamine N ‐oxide (TMAO) to trimethylamine (TMA) under (semi)anaerobic conditions. In most cases the reduction of DMSO and TMAO was accompanied by an increase in cell yield. The ability to reduce DMSO or TMAO was not correlated to reduced DMSO or TMAO was not correlated with the ability to reduce nitrate to nitrite. Anaerobic respiration with DMSO and TMAO as electron acceptor supplies the halophilic archeobacteria with an additional mode of energy generation in the absence of molecular oxygen.