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ACCUMULATION OF POLY-B-HYDROXYBUTYRATE IN A METHANE-ENRICHED, HALOGENATED HYDROCARBON-DEGRADING SOIL COLUMN: IMPLICATIONS FOR MICROBIAL COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS
Citation:
Nichols, P. AND D. White. ACCUMULATION OF POLY-B-HYDROXYBUTYRATE IN A METHANE-ENRICHED, HALOGENATED HYDROCARBON-DEGRADING SOIL COLUMN: IMPLICATIONS FOR MICROBIAL COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-89/256.
Description:
The prokarotic, endogenous storage polymer poly-B-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) accumulated in soil from a methane-enriched, halogenated hydrocarbon-degrading soil column. ased on phospholipid ester-linked fatty acid (PLFA) profiles, this mocrocosm has been previously reported to be significantly enhanced in type II methanotrophs. wo strains analyzed of the type II methanotroph Methylobacterium organophilum were found to contain PHB, with PHB/PLFA ratios similar to those determined for the methane-enriched soil column, suggesting that methanotrophic bacteria enriched in the methane-amended column produced PHB. ontrol soil and sodium azide-inhibited material, in which methanotroph markers were below detection, did not contain PHB. iochemical assays, based on the differences observed, can be used to monitor shifts in microbial biomass, community structure and nutritional status of systems used to model microbial biotransfornation processes. his study illustrates that biochemical procedures have the potential to monitor the stimulated populations of a native soil microbial community capable of degrading pollutants. uch data may ultimately provide information to assist in the selection and optimization of favorable conditions for the adaption of pollutant biotransformation processes to aquifers.