This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lennon, J. T.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Lennon, J. T.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Lennon, J. T.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2007, p. 2799-2805, Vol. 73, No. 9
0099-2240/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02674-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Diversity and Metabolism of Marine Bacteria Cultivated on Dissolved DNA{triangledown} ,{dagger}

Jay T. Lennon*

W. K. Kellogg Biological Station and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, 3700 East Gull Lake Drive, Hickory Corners, Michigan 49060

Received 15 November 2006/ Accepted 21 February 2007

Dissolved DNA (dDNA) is a potentially important source of energy and nutrients in aquatic ecosystems. However, little is known about the identity, metabolism, and interactions of the microorganisms capable of consuming dDNA. Bacteria from Eel Pond (Woods Hole, MA) were cultivated on low-molecular-weight (LMW) or high-molecular-weight (HMW) dDNA, which served as the primary source of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Cloning and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes revealed that distinct bacterial assemblages with comparable levels of taxon richness developed on LMW and HMW dDNA. Since the LMW and HMW dDNA used in this study were stoichiometrically identical, the results confirm that the size alone of dissolved organic matter can influence bacterial community composition. Variation in the growth and metabolism of isolates provided insight into mechanisms that may have generated differences in bacterial community composition. For example, bacteria from LMW dDNA enrichments generally grew better on LMW dDNA than on HMW dDNA. In contrast, bacteria isolated from HMW dDNA enrichments were more effective at degrading HMW dDNA than bacteria isolated from LMW dDNA enrichments. Thus, marine bacteria may experience a trade-off between their ability to compete for LMW dDNA and their ability to access HMW dDNA via extracellular nuclease production. Together, the results of this study suggest that dDNA turnover in marine ecosystems may involve a succession of microbial assemblages with specialized ecological strategies.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: W. K. Kellogg Biological Station and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, 3700 East Gull Lake Drive, Hickory Corners, MI 49060. Phone: (269) 671-2340. Fax: (269) 671-2104. E-mail: lennonja{at}msu.edu

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 2 March 2007.

{dagger} Kellogg Biological Station contribution number 1288.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2007, p. 2799-2805, Vol. 73, No. 9
0099-2240/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02674-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Pinchuk, G. E., Ammons, C., Culley, D. E., Li, S.-M. W., McLean, J. S., Romine, M. F., Nealson, K. H., Fredrickson, J. K., Beliaev, A. S. (2008). Utilization of DNA as a Sole Source of Phosphorus, Carbon, and Energy by Shewanella spp.: Ecological and Physiological Implications for Dissimilatory Metal Reduction. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 1198-1208 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»