Sulfonic Acid Transformation by Anaerobic Bacteria

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LeadbetterThis project's aims are to elucidate enzymological and relatedaspects of a recently recognized type of bacterial metabolism--thebiodegradation of organosulfur compounds known as sulfonic acids--thatoccurs in anoxic habitats. Such habitats are widespread on the planet.Sulfonic acids are not only biosynthetic products of a variety of animals,plants and microbes, but are products of chemical commerce (for example,household and industrial detergents, dyes, and soaps). These compoundsthus enter into both the carbon and sulfur biogeochemical cycleson the planet.It has recently been recognized that household and industrial detergentsknown as sulfonic acids can be degraded, or cycled, by bacteria thatthrive in habitats in which molecular oxygen is in limited supply. Thismetabolism of sulfonic acids results in release of sulfide, a chemicalthat has the smell of "rotten-egg" and is, in addition, corrosive to metalpipes, for example. How these particular bacteria bring about thisbiodegradation is the focus of this research project. The results of thestudy may be of value in furthering our understanding of metal deteriorationand how to minimize it, as well as to deepen our understanding ofsulfonic acids' roles in contributing to the crucial cycling of carbonand sulfur compounds on the planet.