Work

Phylogenetic Characterization of Phosphatase-Expressing Bacterial Communities in Baltic Sea Sediments

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: Phosphate release from sediments hampers the remediation of aquatic systems from a eutrophic state. Microbial phosphatases in sediments release phosphorus during organic matter degradation. Despite the important role of phosphatase-expressing bacteria, the identity of these bacteria in sediments is largely unknown. We herein presented a culture-independent method to phylogenetically characterize phosphatase-expressing bacteria in sediments. We labeled whole-cell extracts of Baltic Sea sediments with an artificial phosphatase substrate and sorted phosphatase-expressing cells with a flow cytometer. Their phylogenetic affiliation was determined by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis. The phosphatase-expressing bacterial community coarsely reflected the whole-cell bacterial community, with a similar dominance of Alphaproteobacteria.

Source: Microbes and Environments

DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me14074

Authors: Anne K. Steenbergh, Paul L.E. Bodelier, Hans L. Hoogveld, Caroline P. Slomp, Hendrikus J. Laanbroek

Institutions: Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Utrecht University

Language: English

Topic: Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Darwin Center for Biogeosciences