Dissimilatory reduction of bisulfite by Desulfovibrio vulgaris

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Abstract
The reduction of bisulfite by D. vulgaris was investigated. Crude extracts reduced bisulfite to sulfide without the formation (detection) of any intermediates such as trithionate or thiosulfate. When the particulate fraction was removed from crude extracts by high-speed centrifugation, the soluble supernatant fraction reduced bisulfite sequentially to trithionate, thiosulfate and sulfide. Addition of particles or purified membranes to the soluble fraction restored the original activity demonstrated by crude extracts, i.e., reduction of bisulfite to sulfide without the formation of trithionate and/or thiosulfate. By using antiserum directed against bisulfite reductase, the reduction of bisulfite by crude extracts was inhibited. This finding and several recycling studies of thiosulfate reduction showed that bisulfite reduction by D. vulgaris operated through the pathway involving trithionate and thiosulfate as intermediates. The role of membranes in this process is discussed.