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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, February 2004, p. 745-751, Vol. 70, No. 2
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.2.745-751.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Stable Carbon Isotope Ratios of Lipid Biomarkers of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria

K. L. Londry,1* L. L. Jahnke,2 and D. J. Des Marais2

Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada,1 Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California2

Received 16 June 2003/ Accepted 3 November 2003

We examined the potential use of natural-abundance stable carbon isotope ratios of lipids for determining substrate usage by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Four SRB were grown under autotrophic, mixotrophic, or heterotrophic growth conditions, and the {delta}13C values of their individual fatty acids (FA) were determined. The FA were usually 13C depleted in relation to biomass, with {Delta}{delta}13C(FA - biomass) of -4 to -17{per thousand}; the greatest depletion occurred during heterotrophic growth. The exception was Desulfotomaculum acetoxidans, for which substrate limitation resulted in biomass and FA becoming isotopically heavier than the acetate substrate. The {delta}13C values of FA in Desulfotomaculum acetoxidans varied with the position of the double bond in the monounsaturated C16 and C18 FA, with FA becoming progressively more 13C depleted as the double bond approached the methyl end. Mixotrophic growth of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans resulted in little depletion of the i17:1 biomarker relative to biomass or acetate, whereas growth with lactate resulted in a higher proportion of i17:1 with a greater depletion in 13C. The relative abundances of 10Me16:0 in Desulfobacter hydrogenophilus and Desulfobacterium autotrophicum were not affected by growth conditions, yet the {Delta}{delta}13C(FA - substrate) values of 10Me16:0 were considerably greater during autotrophic growth. These experiments indicate that FA {delta}13C values can be useful for interpreting carbon utilization by SRB in natural environments.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada. Phone: (204) 474-7199. Fax: (204) 474-7603. E-mail: londryk{at}cc.umanitoba.ca.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, February 2004, p. 745-751, Vol. 70, No. 2
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.2.745-751.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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