Stable Isotope Probing as a Tool for the Detection of Active Microorganisms in Xenobiotics Degradation

Authors

  • O. Uhlík Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague,
  • K. Ječná Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Prague,
  • M. Macková Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Prague,
  • M. B. Leigh Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, U.S.A.
  • K. Demnerová Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Prague,
  • T. Macek Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague,

Abstract

One of the challenges the microbial ecologists are facing is the identification of microorganisms that are responsible for particular biochemical processes in the environment. Although small- subunit rRNA gene sequencing is a robust technique whereby the phylogenetic diversity of microbial communities can be described, it provides few direct links between the identity of microorganisms and their metabolic capabilities and function in the environment. In contrast, when a microorganism is cultivable, it can be identified, after isolation, and characterized at the physiological, biochemical and genetic level. However, only a small fraction of microorganisms present in the environment have been successfully cultivated. Stable isotope probing (SIP) techniques are based on analyzing biomarkers (nucleic acids or phospholipid-derived fatty acids) after microbial consumption of 13C- or 15N-labelled substrate added to an environmental sample. The use of SIP allows the direct detection of microorganisms that are truly active in the degradation and assimilation of a particular substrate within a complex microbial community. The main advantages of this method are its cultivation independence and the fact that it links the identity of microorganisms with their function in the environment.

Published

2008-08-15

How to Cite

Uhlík, O., Ječná, K., Macková, M., Leigh, M. B., Demnerová, K., & Macek, T. (2008). Stable Isotope Probing as a Tool for the Detection of Active Microorganisms in Xenobiotics Degradation. Chemické Listy, 102(7). Retrieved from http://chemicke-listy.cz/ojs3/index.php/chemicke-listy/article/view/2831

Issue

Section

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 3 4 > >>