Denitrifying metabolism of the methylotrophic marine bacterium strain JAM1.

BACKGROUND

strain JAM1 is a methylotrophic, marine bacterium that was isolated from a denitrification reactor treating a closed-circuit seawater aquarium. It can sustain growth under anoxic conditions by reducing nitrate ([Formula: see text]) to nitrite ([Formula: see text]). These physiological traits are attributed to gene clusters that encode two dissimilatory nitrate reductases (Nar). Strain JAM1 also contains gene clusters encoding two nitric oxide (NO) reductases and one nitrous oxide (NO) reductase, suggesting that NO and NO can be reduced by strain JAM1. Here we characterized further the denitrifying activities of JAM1.

METHODS

Series of oxic and anoxic cultures of strain JAM1 were performed with NO, [Formula: see text] or sodium nitroprusside, and growth and NO, [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and N concentrations were measured. Ammonium ([Formula: see text])-free cultures were also tested to assess the dynamics of NO, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Isotopic labeling of NO was performed in NH-amended cultures. Cultures with the JAM1Δ double mutant were performed to assess the involvement of the Nar systems on NO production. Finally, RT-qPCR was used to measure the gene expression levels of the denitrification genes cytochrome -type nitric oxide reductase ( and ) and nitrous oxide reductase (), and also and that encode NO-sensitive regulators.

RESULTS

Strain JAM1 can reduce NO to NO and NO to N and can sustain growth under anoxic conditions by reducing NO as the sole electron acceptor. Although strain JAM1 lacks a gene encoding a dissimilatory [Formula: see text] reductase, [Formula: see text]-amended cultures produce NO, representing up to 6% of the N-input. [Formula: see text] was shown to be the key intermediate of this production process. Upregulation in the expression of c, and during the growth and the NO accumulation phases suggests NO production in strain JAM1 cultures.

DISCUSSION

By showing that all the three denitrification reductases are active, this demonstrates that JAM1 is one of many bacteria species that maintain genes associated primarily with denitrification, but not necessarily related to the maintenance of the entire pathway. The reason to maintain such an incomplete pathway could be related to the specific role of strain JAM1 in the denitrifying biofilm of the denitrification reactor from which it originates. The production of NO in strain JAM1 did not involve Nar, contrary to what was demonstrated in . JAM1 is the only reported species that has the capacity to grow under anoxic conditions by using [Formula: see text] and NO as sole electron acceptors for its growth. It is also one of a few marine methylotrophs that is studied at the physiological and genetic levels in relation to its capacity to perform denitrifying activities.