Abstract
Sulphate is reduced to thiols by micro-organisms and plants and these are incorporated via amino acids into protein. Higher animals however do not utilize sulphate and get their sulphur thiol groups usually from amino acids. Some bacteria also use sulphate as an alternative to oxygen as a hydrogen acceptor. Biochemical evidence suggests that sulphate is first activated by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) before it is reduced. Two sulphur-containing nucleotides, adenosine-5′-phosphosulphate (APS) and adenosine-3′-phosphate 5′ phosphosulphate (PAPS) have been identified as carriers of sulphur in bacteria and in green plants during sulphate reduction. Enzymes associated with sulphate and sulphite reduction in bacteria and in green plants are described in this paper, and ecological and economic aspects of the dissimilation of sulphate by bacteria are also considered.
Zusammenfassung
Bestimmte Mikroorganismen und Pflanzen reduzieren Sulfate zu Thiolen und diese werden über Aminosäuren in Proteine eingebaut. Höhere Tiere verarbeiten kein Sulfat und erhalten ihre Mercaptan-Gruppe gewöhnlich aus Aminosäuren. Einige Bakterien verwenden Sulfate anstelle von Sauerstoff als Wasserstoff-Acceptor. Biochemische Anzeichen sprechen dafür, daß Sulfat durch Adenosintriphosphat bevor es reduziert, aktiviert wird. Zwei schwefelhaltige Nucleotide wurden als Zwischenprodukte der Sulfatreduktion in Bakterien und in grünen Pflanzen identifiziert. Es werden hier Enzyme, die mit der Sulfit-Reduktion in Bakterien und in grünen Pflanzen in Zusammenhang stehen, beschrieben. Ökologische und ökonomische Gesichtspunkte der Sulfatdissimilation durch Bakterien werden erörtert.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abd-El-Malek, Y., and S. G. Rizk: Culture of Desulphovibrio desulphuricans. Nature 185, 635–636 (1960).
Adams, M. E., and J. R. Postgate: On sporulation in sulphate-reducing bacteria. J. Gen. Microbiol. 24, 291–294 (1960).
Asahi, T.: Sulfur metabolism in higher plants. IV. Mechanisms of sulfate reduction in chloroplasts. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 82, 58–66 (1964).
—, R. S. Bandurski, and L. G. Wilson: Yeast sulfate-reducing system. II. Enzymatic reduction of protein disulfide. J. Biol. Chem. 236, 1830–1835 (1961).
Barta, J.: Decontamination of industrial effluents by means of anaerobic continuous action of reducing sulphur bacteria. In International symposium on continuous culture of microorganisms, (Eds. I. Malek, K. Beran, and J. Hospodka) Prague: Czek. Acad. Sci., 391 p., 1962.
—, and E. Hudcova: Factors affecting the degradation of ballast substances from citric acid production by sulphate-reducing bacteria. Folia Microbiol. (Prague) 6, 104–114 (1961).
Basu, S. K., and T. K. Ghose: Bacterial sulphide production from sulphate-enriched spent distillery liquor. II. J. Biochem. Microbiol. Technol. Eng. 3, 181–197 (1961).
Berner, R. A.: Experimental studies of the formation of sedimentary iron sulfides. In: Biogeochemistry of sulfur isotopes (ed. M. L. Jensen). New Haven: Yale Univ. Press, 193 p., 1962.
Booth, G. H.: Sulphur bacteria in relation to corrosion. J. Appl. Bacteriol. 27, 174–181 (1964).
—, A. W. Cooper, and A. K. Tiller: Corrosion of mild steel in the tidal waters of the Thames estuary. I. Results of six-months' and one year's immersion. J. Appl. Chem. (London) 13, 211–220 (1963).
Brüggemann, J., K. Schlossmann, M. Merkenschlager und M. Waldschmidt: Zur Frage des Vorkommens der Serinsulfhydrase. Biochem. Z. 335, 392–399 (1962).
Butlin, K. R., S. C. Selwyn, and D. S. Wakerly: Microbial sulphide production from sulphate-enriched sewage sludge. J. Appl. Bacteriol. 23, 158–168 (1960).
Campbell, L. L., and J. R. Postgate: Classification of rhe spore-forming sulphate-reducing bacteria. Bacteriol Rev. 29, 359–363 (1965).
Cowie, D. B., E. T. Bolton, and M. K. Sands: Sulfur metabolism in Escherichia Coli. II. Competitive utilization of labelled and non-labelled sulfur sompounds. J. Bacteriol. 62, 63–74 (1951).
Dostalek, M.: Bacterial release of oil. III. Areal distribution of the effect of nutrient injection into the deposit. Folia Microbiol. (Prague) 6, 10–17 (1961).
Dreyfuss, J., and K. J. Monty: The biochemical characterization of cysteine-requiring mutants of Salmonella typhimurium. J. Biol. Chem. 238, 1019–1024 (1963).
Freke, A. M., and D. Tate: Formation of magnetic iron sulphide by bacterial reduction of iron solutions. J. Biochem. Microbiol. Technol. Eng. 3, 29–39 (1961).
Genovese, S.: The distribution of the H2S in the Lake of Faro (Messina) with particular regard to the presence of Red Water. In: Symposium on Marine Microbiology. (Ed. C. H. Oppenheimer) 194–204. Springfield, Illinois: Thomas, 769 p., 1963.
Gregory, J. D., and P. W. Robbins: Metabolism of sulphur compounds (Sulphate metabolism). Ann. Rev. Biochem. 29, 347–364 (1960).
Hedrick, H. G., C. E. Miller, J. E. Halkies, and J. E. Hildebrand: Selection of a microbial corrosion system for studying effects on structural aluminium alloys. Appl. Microbiol. 12, 197–200 (1964).
Hilz, H., und M. Kittler: Enzymatische Reduktion von Sulfat zu Sulfid. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 30, 650–651 (1958).
—, and F. Lipmann: The enzymatic activation of sulfate. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. 41, 880–890 (1955).
Horowitz, N. H.: Biochemical genetics of Neurospora. Biochemical genetics of Neurospora crassa. Advances Genet. 3, 33–71 (1950).
—, In: A Symposium on Amino Acid Metabolism. (Eds. W. D. McElroy and H. B. Glass) Discussion, 631–632. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1048 p., 1955.
Ishimoto, M., and T. Yagi: Sulfate-reducing bacteria. IX. Sulfite reductase. J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 49, 103–109 (1961).
Ivanov, M. F.: Microbiological investigation of Carpathian sulphur deposits. I. Mikrobiologiya, 29, 109–113 (1960).
—, Microbiological investigation of Carpathian sulphur deposits. II. Mikrobiologiya. 29, 242–247 (1960).
Jensen, M. L.: Biogenic sulfur and sulfide deposits. In Biogeochemistry of sulfur isotopes. (Ed M. L. Jensen) 1–15. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press, 193 p., 1962.
—, and N. Nakai: Sources and isotopic composition of atmospheric sulphur. Science. 134, 2102–2104 (1961).
Kaplan, J. R., K. O. Emery, and S. C. Rittenburg: The distribution and isotopic abundance of sulphur in recent marine sediments off southern California. Geochim. Cosmochim Acta. 27, 297–331 (1963).
Lampen, J. O., R. R. Roepke, and M. J. Jones: Studies on the sulfur metabolism of Escherichia coli. III. Mutant strains of Escherichia coli unable to utilize sulfate for their complete sulfur requirements. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 13, 55–66 (1947).
Lipmann, F.: Biological sulfate activation and transfer. Science. 128, 575–580 (1958).
Ochynski, F. W., and J. R. Postgate: Some biochemical differences between fresh water and salt water strains of sulphate-reducing bacteria: In: Symposium on Marine Microbiology. (C. H. Oppenheimer, Ed.) 426–441. Springfield, Illinois: Thomas 796 p., 1963.
Peck, H. D.: Symposium on metabolism of inorganic compounds. V. Comparative metabolism of inorganic sulphur compounds in microorganisms. Bacteriol. Rev. 26, 67–94 (1962).
Pipes, W. O.: Sludge digestion by sulphate-reducing bactéia. Purdue Univ. Eng. Bull. Ext. Ser. 105, 308–319 (1960).
Postgate, J. R.: Sulphate reduction by bacteria. Ann. Rev. Microbiol. 13, 505–520 (1959).
— The economic activities of sulphate-reducing bacteria. Progr. Ind. Microbiol. 2, 49–69 (1960).
— Cytochrome C3. In International Symposium on Haematin Enzymes. Pt. 2, 407–414. (Eds. J. E. Falk, R. Lemberg, and R. K. Morton). London: Pergamon Press, 608 p., 1961.
— The Microbiology of corrosion. In: Corrosion, Vol. 1. Corrosion of Metals and Alloys (Ed. L. L. Shrier) 2–51 to 2–64. London: Newnes, 9–54 p., 1963.
— Recent advances in the study of the sulphate-reducing bacteria. Bacteriol. Rev. 29, 425–441 (1965).
Roberts, R. B., P. H. Abelson, D. B. Cowie, E. T. Bolton, and R. J. Britten: Sulfur Metabolism. In: Studies of Biosynthesis in Escherichia coli, 318–405. Washington: Carnegie Inst. Publ. 607, 521 p., 1955.
Russell, P.: Microbiological studies in realtion to moist groundwood pulp. Chem. Ind. (London) 642–649 (1961).
Schiff, J. A.: Studies of sulfate utilization by algae. II. Further identification of reduced compounds formed from sulfate by Chlorella. Plant Physiol. 39, 176–179 (1964).
Schneider, J. F., and J. Westley: Direct incorporation of thiosulfate sulfur into cysteine by lysed rat liver mitochondria. J. Biol. Chem. 238, PC 3516–3517 (1963).
Senez, J. C.: Role écologique des bacteries sulfat o-reductrices. Pubbl. Staz. Zool. Napoli 32, 427–441 (1962).
— Some considerations on the energetics of bacterial growth. Bacteriol. Rev. 26, 95–107 (1962).
Singer, T. P., and E. B. Kearney: Enzymatic pathways in the degradation of sulfur-containing amino acids. In: A Symposium on Amino Acid Metabolism (Eds. W. D. McElroy and H. B. Glass) 558–590. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1048 p., 1955.
Sorokin, Y. I.: Experimental study of bacteria-induced sulphate reduction in the Black Sea using S35. Mikrobiologiya 31, 402–410 (1962).
Starkey, R. L.: Sulfate-reducing bacteria, their production of sulfide and their economic importance. Tappi 44, 493–496 (1961).
Sukow, R., and W. Schwartz: Redox conditions and precipitation of iron and copper in sulphu reta. In: Symposium on Marine Microbiology (Ed. C. H. Oppenheimer) 187–193. Springfield, Illinois: Thomas, 769 p., 1963.
Takawa, K., and D. I. Arnon: Ferridoxins as electron carriers in photosynthesis and in the biological production and consumption of hydrogen gas. Nature. 195, 537–541 (1962).
Torii, K., and R. S. Bandursky: A possible intermediate in the reduction of 3′-phosphoryl-5′-adenosine phosphosulfate to sulfite. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 14, 537–542 (1964).
— R. S. Bandursky Yeast sulfate-reducing system. III. An intermediate in the reduction of 3′-phosphoryl-5′-adenosine phosphosulfate to sulfite. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 136, 286–295 (1967).
Valentine, R. C., and R. S. Wolfe: Role of ferredoxin in the metabolism of molecular hydrogen. J. Bacteriol. 85, 1114–1120 (1963).
Wilson, L. G.: Metabolism of sulfate: Sulfate reduction. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 13, 201–224 (1962).
—, T. Asahi, and R. S. Bandurski: Yeast sulfate-reducing system. I. Reduction of sulfate to sulfite. J. Biol. Chem. 236, 1822–1829 (1961).
—, and R. S. Bandurski: Enzymatic reactions involving sulfate, sulfite, selenate, and molybdate. J. Biol. Chem. 233, 975–981 (1958).
Wood, E. C.: Some chemical and bacteriological aspects of East Anglian waters. Proc. Soc. Water Treat. Exam. 10, 82–90 (1961).
Zobell, C. E.: The ecology of sulfate-reducing bacteria. In: Sulfate reducing bacteria, their relation to the secondary recovery of oil, 1–24. New York: St. Bonaventure Univ. 1958.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nicholas, D.J.D. Biological sulphate reduction. Mineral. Deposita 2, 169–180 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00201913
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00201913