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Biomedical subjects

D G Capone

Publications and source records attributed to D G Capone.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Stimulation of methanogenesis by aldicarb and several other N-methyl carbamate pesticides.

Aldicarb and several other N-methyl carbamate pesticides stimulated methane production in anaerobic salt marsh soils and organic-rich aquifer soils. Stimulation was biological and linearly related to the amount of carbamate added. Of the four carbamates studied, methomyl gave the greatest stimulation followed by carbaryl, aldicarb, and baygon. The percent conversions [(moles of CH(4) in excess of control/mole of carbamate added) x 100] for methomyl, carbaryl, aldicarb, and baygon were 88, 57, 40, and 11, respectively. Using aldicarb as a model carbamate, we found that monomethylamine (MA) accumulated in sediments as a result of aldicarb addition. MA arises from the N-methyl carbamoyl portion of the carbamates as a result of presumptive biological hydrolysis. MA levels decreased as CH(4) production was stimulated, and 2-bromoethane sulfonic acid (a specific inhibitor of mathanogenesis) partially inhibited the loss of MA. These findings suggest that N-methyl carbamates are readily hydrolyzed to MA in the presence of an active microbial population under anaerobic conditions and that methanogenesis is stimulated as a result of the consumption of MA by methanogenic bacteria.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1986

Metabolism of reduced methylated sulfur compounds in anaerobic sediments and by a pure culture of an estuarine methanogen.

Addition of dimethylsulfide (DMS), dimethyldisulfide (DMDS), or methane thiol (MSH) to a diversity of anoxic aquatic sediments (e.g., fresh water, estuarine, alkaline/hypersaline) stimulated methane production. The yield of methane recovered from DMS was often 52 to 63%, although high concentrations of DMS (as well as MSH and DMDS) inhibited methanogenesis in some types of sediments. Production of methane from these reduced methylated sulfur compounds was blocked by 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid. Sulfate did not influence the metabolism of millimolar levels of DMS, DMDS, or MSH added to sediments. However, when DMS was added at approximately 2-muM levels as [C]DMS, metabolism by sediments resulted in a CH(4)/CO(2) ratio of only 0.06. Addition of molybdate increased the ratio to 1.8, while 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid decreased it to 0, but did not block CO(2) production. These results indicate the methanogens and sulfate reducers compete for DMS when it is present at low concentrations; however, at high concentrations, DMS is a "noncompetitive" substrate for methanogens. Metabolism of DMS by sediments resulted in the appearance of MSH as a transient intermediate. A pure culture of an obligately methylotrophic estuarine methanogen was isolated which was capable of growth on DMS. Metabolism of DMS by the culture also resulted in the transient appearance of MSH, but the organism could grow on neither MSH nor DMDS. The culture metabolized [C]-DMS to yield a CH(4)/CO(2) ratio of approximately 2.8. Reduced methylated sulfur compounds represent a new class of substrates for methanogens and may be potential precursors of methane in a variety of aquatic habitats.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

Degassing of Pore Water Methane during Sediment Incubations.

Laboratory experiments were used to examine the degassing of CH(4) from a muddy sediment. Sediment containing dissolved CH(4) showed a hyperbolic time course of CH(4) release when allowed to degas in stoppered 20-ml vials. Equilibration required ca. 24 h for 5 ml of sediment. The rate of CH(4) release was found to be dependent on the ratio of exposed sediment surface area to sediment volume. The water content of the sediment was a factor in the total amount of CH(4) released but did not affect the rate of degassing. Addition of water to sediment samples (to form a slurry) accelerated CH(4) release, with a 1:1 dilution giving ca. 80% of maximum release after only 2 min. Shaking (vortexing) the sediments also facilitated CH(4) exchange, with 2 min of vigorous agitation giving 77% of maximum release. The organic content of the sediment did not affect either the amount or the rate of CH(4) degassing. Rubber stoppers exposed to CH(4) were found to absorb CH(4) rapidly and to subsequently release it in proportion to the concentration to which they were exposed. Artifacts may be associated with CH(4) production measurements if sediment and stopper degassing are not considered. It is recommended that any study of methane production or distribution include preliminary experiments to determine the degassing kinetics for the specific sediment system being used.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

Effects of four aromatic organic pollutants on microbial glucose metabolism and thymidine incorporation in marine sediments.

The metabolism of D-[U-14C]glucose and the incorporation of [methyl-3H]thymidine by aerobic and anaerobic marine sediment microbes exposed to 1 to 1,000 ppm anthracene, naphthalene, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and pentachlorophenol were examined. Cell-specific rates of [14C]glucose metabolism averaged 1.7 X 10(-21) and 0.5 X 10(-21) mol/min per cell for aerobic and anaerobic sediment slurries, respectively; [3H]thymidine incorporation rates averaged 43 X 10(-24) and 9 X 10(-24) mol/min per cell for aerobic and anaerobic slurries, respectively. Aerobic sediments exposed to three of the organic pollutants for 2 to 7 days showed recovery of both activities. Anaerobic sediments showed little recovery after 2 days of pre-exposure to the pollutants. We conclude that (i) anaerobic sediments are more sensitive than aerobic sediments to pollutant additions; (ii) [3H]thymidine incorporation is more sensitive to pollutant additions than is [14C]glucose metabolism; and (iii) the toxicity of the pollutants increased in the following order: anthracene, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, naphthalene, and pentachlorophenol.

Anthracenes↗
PubMed1985

Degradation and mineralization of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons anthracene and naphthalene in intertidal marine sediments.

The degradation of the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) anthracene and naphthalene by the microbiota of intertidal sediments was investigated in laboratory studies. No mineralization of either PAH was observed in the absence of oxygen. Both rates and total amounts of PAH mineralization were strongly controlled by oxygen content and temperature of the incubations. Inorganic nitrogen and glucose amendments had minimal effects on PAH mineralization. The rates and total amounts of PAH mineralized were directly related to compound concentration, pre-exposure time, and concentration. Maximum mineralization was observed at the higher concentrations (5 to 100 mug/g [ppm]) of both PAHs. Optimal acclimation to anthracene and naphthalene (through pre-exposures to the compounds) occurred at the highest acclimation concentration (1,000 ppm). However, acclimation to a single concentration (100 ppm) resulted in initial relative mineralization rates over a range of re-exposure concentrations (1 to 1,000 ppm) being nearly identical. Maximum mineralization of both PAHs occurred after intermediate periods (1 to 2 weeks) of pre-exposure. The fraction of the total heterotrophic population capable of utilizing anthracene or naphthalene as sole carbon source was also greatest after 2 weeks.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1983

Effects of metals on methanogenesis, sulfate reduction, carbon dioxide evolution, and microbial biomass in anoxic salt marsh sediments.

The effects of several metals on microbial methane, carbon dioxide, and sulfide production and microbial ATP were examined in sediments from Spartina alterniflora communities. Anaerobically homogenized sediments were amended with 1,000 ppm (ratio of weight of metal to dry weight of sediment) of various metals. Time courses in controls were similar for CH(4), H(2)S, and CO(2), with short initial lags (0 to 4 h) followed by periods of constant gas production (1 to 2 days) and declining rates thereafter. Comparisons were made between control and experimental assays with respect to initial rates of production (after lag) and overall production. Methane evolution was inhibited both initially and overall by CH(3)HgCl, HgS, and NaAsO(2). A period of initial inhibition was followed by a period of overall stimulation with Hg, Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cu, all as chlorides, and with ZnSO(4), K(2)CrO(4), and K(2)Cr(2)O(7). Production of CO(2) was generally less affected by the addition of metals. Inhibition was noted with NaAsO(2), CH(3)HgCl, and Na(2)MoO(4). Minor stimulation of CO(2) production occurred over the long term with chlorides of Hg, Pb, and Fe. Sulfate reduction was inhibited in the short term by all metals tested and over the long term by all but FeCl(2) and NiCl(2). Microbial biomass was decreased by FeCl(2), K(2)Cr(2)O(7), ZnSO(4), CdCl(2), and CuCl(2) but remained generally unaffected by PbCl(2), HgCl(2), and NiCl(2). Although the majority of metals produced an immediate inhibition of methanogenesis, for several metals this was only a transient phenomenon followed by an overall stimulation. The initial suppression of methanogenesis may be relieved by precipitation, complexation, or transformation of the metal (possibly by methylation), with the subsequent stimulation resulting from a sustained inhibition of competing organisms (e.g., sulfate-reducing bacteria). For several environmentally significant metals, severe metal pollution may substantially alter the flow of carbon in sediments.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1982

Nitrogen Fixation Associated with Rinsed Roots and Rhizomes of the Eelgrass Zostera marina.

Nitrogen fixation was associated with the rinsed roots and rhizomes of the seagrass, Zostera marina L. Nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) was greater on rhizomes compared to roots, and on older roots and rhizomes relative to younger tissue. Compared to aerobic assays, anaerobic or microaerobic conditions enhanced the rate of acetylene reduction by rhizomes with attached roots, with the highest activity (100 nanomoles per gram dry weight per hour) occurring at pO(2) = 0.01 atmosphere. Addition of glucose, sucrose, or succinate also increased the rate of acetylene reduction under anaerobic conditions, with glucose providing the most stimulation. In one experiment, comparison of acetylene reduction assays with (15)N(2) incorporation yielded a ratio of about 2.6:1. Seagrass communities are thought to be limited by the availability of nitrogen and, therefore, nitrogenase activity directly associated with their roots and rhizomes suggests the possibility of a N(2)-fixing flora which may subsidize their nutritional demand for nitrogen.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1982

Perfusion method for assaying microbial activities in sediments: applicability to studies of n(2) fixation by c(2)h(2) reduction.

A perfusion method for assaying nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) in marine sediments was developed. The method was used to assay sediment cores from Spartina alterniflora (salt marsh), Zostera marina (sea grass), and Thalassia testudinum (sea grass) communities, and the results were compared with those of conventional sealed-flask assays. Rates of ethylene production increased progressively with time in the perfusion assays, reaching plateau values of 2 to 3 nmol . g of dry sediment . h by 10 to 20 h. Depletion of interstitial NH(4) was implicated in this stimulation of nitrogenase activity. Initial acetylene reduction rates determined by the perfusion assay of cores from the Spartina community ranged from 0.15 to 0.60 nmol of C(2)H(4) . g of dry sediment . h. These rates were similar to those for sediments assayed in sealed flasks without seawater when determined over linear periods of C(2)H(4) production. Initial values obtained by using the perfusion method were 0.66 nmol of C(2)H(4) . g of dry sediment . h for sediments from Zostera communities and 0.70 nmol of C(2)H(4) . g of dry sediment . h for sediments from Thalassia communities. In all cases, rates determined by simultaneous slurry assays were lower than those determined by the perfusion method.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1980

N2 fixation in the rhizosphere of Thalassia testudinum.

N2 fixation (C2H2 reduction) associated with the roots, rhizomes, and sediments (rhizosphere cores) of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum was measured at sites in South Florida (Soldier Key, Biscayne Bay) and the Bahamas (Bimini Harbor). Rates of C2H2 reduction were higher in anaerobic than in aerobic assays and were linear for several hours after an initial lag period of 1-2h. Nitrogenase activity was proportional to the weight of rhizomes plus roots but showed no correlation with the total weight of the rhizosphere cores. C2H2 reduction occurred to depths of at least 30 cm but the majority (<85%) of the activity was in the 0- to 20-cm fraction; also the ratio of activities for the 0- to 10- and 10- to 20-cm depths was about 2:1. Most investigations were carried out using anaerobic assays of the 0- to 10-cm fractions and rates calculated for the period of 3-6 h after adding C2H2. These rates were not stimulated by organic compounds (glucose, lactate, succinate) but were approximately halved by a decrease in temperature of 10 degrees C. In a seasonal study at Soldier Key the rates of N2 fixation varied about 20-fold with maximal rates in late summer and minimal rates in winter (January). On a diurnal basis, C2H2 reduction increased in the morning but was depressed in midafternoon, probably due to O2 buildup in the rhizosphere. Daily rates of N2 fixation, during the summer months of 1975-1978, varied between 5 and 24 mg N (-2)m and the estimated annual rates of N2 fixation were 10-50 kg N (-1)ha, taking into account seasonal variations and activities to a depth of 20 cm.

Kinetics↗