Physiological and genomic evidence of cysteine degradation and aerobic hydrogen sulfide production in freshwater bacteria.

ABSTRACT: The sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine is abundant in the environment, including in freshwater lakes. Biological cysteine degradation can result in hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), a toxic and ecologically relevant compound that is a central player in biogeochemical cycling in aquatic environments. Here, we investigated the ecological significance of cysteine in oxic freshwater, using isolated cultures, controlled experiments, and multiomics. We screened bacterial isolates enriched from natural lake water for their ability to produce H₂S when provided cysteine. We identified 29 isolates (Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria) that produced H₂S. To understand the genomic and genetic basis for cysteine degradation and H₂S production, we furthe

SUBMITTER: Tran PQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10308919 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature