Substrate uptake and utilization by a marine ultramicrobacterium

Schut, Frits; Jansen, M.; Gomes, Teresa M. Pedro; Gottschal, Jan C.; Prins, W.

doi:10.1099/13500872-141-2-351

Cited by 42 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 38 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Oligotrophic traits of S. alaskensis include the ability to grow slowly with a constant maximum specific growth rate (Ͻ0.2 h Ϫ1 ) on low concentrations (nanomolar) of substrates and maintain a relatively small cell volume (Ͻ0.1 m 3 ) and constant cell size in the shift between starvation and growth conditions (6). The small size provides a mechanism for avoidance of predation, and the high surface area-to-volume ratio allows for efficient nutrient acquisition through high-affinity, broad-specificity uptake systems that are predicted to enable S. alaskensis to be able to achieve doubling times typically observed for bacteria in oligotrophic waters (6,7).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The genomic basis of trophic strategy in marine bacteria

Lauro

McDougald

Thomas

et al. 2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

647

682

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many marine bacteria have evolved to grow optimally at either high (copiotrophic) or low (oligotrophic) nutrient concentrations, enabling different species to colonize distinct trophic habitats in the oceans. Here, we compare the genome sequences of two bacteria, Photobacterium angustum S14 and Sphingopyxis alaskensis RB2256, that serve as useful model organisms for copiotrophic and oligotrophic modes of life and specifically relate the genomic features to trophic strategy for these organisms and define their molecular mechanisms of adaptation. We developed a model for predicting trophic lifestyle from genome sequence data and tested >400,000 proteins representing >500 million nucleotides of sequence data from 126 genome sequences with metagenome data of whole environmental samples. When applied to available oceanic metagenome data (e.g., the Global Ocean Survey data) the model demonstrated that oligotrophs, and not the more readily isolatable copiotrophs, dominate the ocean's free-living microbial populations. Using our model, it is now possible to define the types of bacteria that specific ocean niches are capable of sustaining.microbial adaptation and ecology ͉ microbial genomics and metagenomics ͉ monitoring environmental health ͉ trophic adaptation T he marine environment is the largest habitat on Earth, accounting for Ͼ90% of the biosphere by volume and harboring microorganisms responsible for Ϸ50% of total global primary production. Within this environment, marine bacteria (and archaea) play a pivotal role in biogeochemical cycles while constantly assimilating, storing, transforming, exporting, and remineralizing the largest pool of organic carbon on the planet (1).Nutrient levels in pelagic waters are not uniform. Large expanses of water are relatively nutrient depleted (e.g., oligotrophic open ocean water), whereas other zones are relatively nutrient rich (e.g., copiotrophic coastal and estuarine waters). Local variations in nutrient content can occur because of physical processes, including upwelling of nutrient rich deep waters or aeolian and riverine deposition, or biological processes such as phytoplankton blooms or aggregation of particulate organic matter. In addition, heterogeneity in ocean waters is not limited to gross differences in nutrient concentrations, but extends to microscale patchiness that occurs throughout the continuum of ocean nutrient concentrations (2).In ecological terms, bacteria are generally defined as rstrategists, having a small body, short generation time, and highly dispersible offspring. Although this strategy is broadly true compared with macroorganisms, bacteria have evolved a wide range of growth and survival strategies to maximize reproductive success. In particular, nutrient type and availability have provided strong selective pressure for defining lifestyle strategies among marine bacteria. However, although a large number of copiotrophic marine organisms (and fewer oligotrophs) have been cultured, the study of trophic strategy has been impaired by a lack of unders...

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The genomic basis of trophic strategy in marine bacteria

Lauro

McDougald

Thomas

et al. 2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

647

682

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In addition to L-alanine, 9 other amino acids can completely inhibit the accumulation of [14C]-L-alanine, indicating broad substrate specificity of the alanine transporter. With half-saturation constants between 1.3 and 1.8 pM and high maximum attainable uptake rates, RB2256 exhibits the highest uptake affinity ever reported for alanlne (Schut et al 1995). Simultaneous uptake and utilisation of many amino acids is possible during growth on alanine and detailed studies on the utilisation of mixed amino acids may reveal new insights into how these cells live in nature.…”

Section: 'Oligotrophic' Qualificationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The new marine isolate Sphingomonas sp, strain RB2256 (Schut et al , 1995 exhibits specific uptake affinities for mixed amino acids that allow for realistic in situ generation times (Table 3; see also Schut et al 1995). The glucose uptake system in this organism is inducible and exhibits a narrow substrate specificity.…”

Section: 'Oligotrophic' Qualificationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Schut 1994, Schut unpubl. ), was investigated in more detail (Schut 1994, Schut et al 1995. Although no marked difference in substrate uptake affinity for either alanine or glucose was found between cells of this strain grown under nutrient-limitation or in batch culture, a general decrease in the substrate uptake affinity of glucose (Schut 1994) and alanine (authors unpubl.…”

Section: Enrichment and Isolation Of Ultramicrobacteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Oligotrophy and pelagic marine bacteria: facts and fiction

Schut¹,

Prins²,

Gottschal³

1997

Aquat. Microb. Ecol.

147

124

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Oligotrophy, or the inability of bacterial cells to propagate at elevated nutrient concentrations, is a controversial phenomenon in microbiology. The exact cause of the unculturability of many indigenous marine bacteria on standard laboratory media has still not been resolved. Unfortunately, the physiology of such cells is difficult to investigate as long as high cell density cultures cannot be obtained. An extensive evaluation of experiments relating to oligotrophy and the cultivation of marine bacteria is presented in this review. When incorporating the findings of studies performed with molecular biological methods, the picture emerges that indigenous marine bacteria can be cultivated under certain cond~tions and that the 'ohgotrophic way of life' is a transient characteristic. Although strong generalisations should not be made w~t h respect to a biological system as diverse as the world's oceans, it should be anticipated that cells with unique physiological characteristics appear to exist in the oceanic system. When combining conventional physiological approaches with molecular biological techniques it is feasible to unveil the phenotypes that go with the encountered genotypes. In view of the enormous complexity of the oceanic system this will prove an ambitious, yet resourceful undertaking.

show abstract

“…This observation led them to conclude that the UMB in estuaries might be low-nutrient-induced forms of such heterotrophic bacteria as vibrios, and that UMB might represent intermediates between metabolically active large forms and small dead forms. Schut et al (1993Schut et al ( , 1995 isolated small rod-shaped bacteria with cell volumes of 0.05 to 0.10 µm 3 from marine environments. These UMB isolates were facultative oligotrophs and were suggested to constitute the major proportion of the marine bacterial population.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%