Direct analysis of sulfate reducing bacterial communities in gas hydrate-impacted marine sediments by PCR–DGGE
✍ Scribed by Christopher E. Bagwell; Michael Formolo; Qi Ye; Chris M. Yeager; Timothy W. Lyons; Chuanlun L. Zhang
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2009
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 116 KB
- Volume
- 49
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0233-111X
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
Molecular investigations of the sulfate reducing bacteria that target the dissimilatory sulfite‐reductase subunit A gene (dsr A) are plagued by the nonspecific performance of conventional PCR primers. Here we describe the incorporation of the FailSafe™ PCR System to optimize environmental analysis of dsr A by PCR amplification and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. PCR–DGGE analysis of dsr A composition revealed that SRB diversity was greater and more variable throughout the vertical profile of a marine sediment core obtained from a gas hydrate site (GC234) in the Gulf of Mexico than in a sediment core collected from a nearby site devoid of gas hydrates (NBP). Depth profiled dsr B abundance corresponded with sulfate reduction rates at both sites, though measurements were higher at GC234. This study exemplifies the numerical and functional importance of sulfate reducing bacteria in deep‐sea sedimentary environments, and incremental methodological advancements, as described herein, will continue to streamline the analysis of sulfate reducer communities in situ. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)