DMS Formation by Dimethylsulfoniopropionate Route in Freshwater

Abstract

Dimethyl sulfide, the most important form of sulfur gas, is formed by bacterial degradation of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in the Lake of Galilee. DMSP is believed to be a methionine metabolite produced by marine algae and higher plants as part of their osmoregulatory systems. Until now, this process was found exclusively in saline water and therefore was regarded as insignificant for the formation of DMS in freshwaters. It is hereby demonstrated that the process can be dominant in freshwater systems as well, and its product can even affect the odor quality of some drinking and recreational water systems. Peridinium gatunense, a freshwater dinoflagellate which dominates the phytoplankton population in the lake during the winter-spring season, stores a considerable amount (up to 5.5 pg/cell) of DMSP. P. gatunense growth curves reveal an increased storage of DMSP toward the stationary and declining growth phases. The DMSP undergoes bacterial and chemical degradation to release DMS. Released fluxes of DMS from the Lake of Galilee are estimated to be in the range of 0.1 mmol/m 2 month during the late period of the Peridinium bloom season.

Off-flavor compounds from decaying cyanobacterial blooms of Lake Taihu

“…NH 4 + -N increased tenfold to twentyfold when DO was depleted quickly to zero. These increases agree with some previous studies, which indicated that cyanobacteria cell lysis resulted in a large release of nutrients (Ginzburg et al, 1998a(Ginzburg et al, , 1998bYe et al, 2010). Nutrients released during the decomposition of cyanobacterial blooms represent a potential source of internal nutrient loading to lakes.…”

Distribution of the thiols glutathione and 3‐mercaptopropionic acid in Connecticut lakes

“…Although a freshwater dinoflagellate (Peridinium gatunense) was found to be able to store DMSP (Ginzburg et al 1998), to our knowledge, the presence of DMSP in freshwater algae or the water column has not yet been reported in other freshwater lakes. Therefore, DMSP is unlikely to be the precursor of the MPA detected in Linsley Pond.…”

In situ enclosure experiments on the occurrence, development and decline of black bloom and the dynamics of its associated taste and odor compounds

“…These variations can be explained as follows. For the VOSCs, stored dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in the algal cells could first be released into the ambient water column during the massive and rapid anaerobic algal decay (Ginzburg et al, 1998). Then, DMSP could lead to a rapid increase in DMS production by other microbes and via physicochemical degradation (Li et al, 2011).…”