HYDROGEN UTILIZATION BY SOME MARINE SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA

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Abstract
Pure cultures of sulfate-reducing bacteria isolated from marine sediments produce hydrogenase as indicated by their ability to utilize H2. 33 out of 39 cultures showed this ability when tested in lactate medium. 11 consumed H2 as the sole source of energy in an inorganic medium, while a few cultures gave results which suggested that hydrogenase may be an adaptive enzyme for the Desulfovibrio. The ratio for H2 consumed to H2S produced approximated 4 for the reduction of sulfate by "resting" cells, but greatly exceeded 4 in cultures growing in inorganic medium. The reduction of CO2 was established by the decrease of CO2 in the medium and by the synthesis of bacterial cell substances. Up to 30% of the cell substance was CCl4-soluble. 10 to 20% of the CCl4-soluble fraction was an oily unsaponifiable material, probably consisting at least in part of paraffinic or naphthenic hydrocarbons. Traces of methane were produced by 6 pure cultures of autotrophic sulfate reducers. Warburg expts. with "resting" cells showed that Desulfovibrio spp. consume H2 more readily in the presence of sulfite, thiosulfate, and fumarate than sulfate. The loss of N2 from cultures indicates that certain hydrogenase-producing bacteria fix N.

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