Sulfonic Acid Transformation by Anaerobic Bacteria

该项目的目的是阐明最近认识到的细菌代谢类型的酶学和相关方面-有机硫化合物的生物降解称为磺酸-发生在缺氧的栖息地。 硫酸不仅是各种动物、植物和微生物的生物合成产物，也是化学商业产品（例如家用和工业洗涤剂、染料和肥皂）。 这些化合物因此进入了地球上的碳和硫的地球化学循环。最近人们认识到，在分子氧供应有限的栖息地中，细菌可以降解或循环被称为磺酸的家用和工业洗涤剂。 磺酸的新陈代谢导致硫化物的释放，硫化物是一种有“臭鸡蛋”气味的化学物质，此外，它还对金属管道有腐蚀性。 这些特殊的细菌是如何引起这种生物降解的是本研究项目的重点。 这项研究的结果可能有助于我们进一步了解金属变质以及如何最大限度地减少它，以及加深我们对磺酸在促进地球上碳和硫化合物的关键循环中的作用的理解。

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.