title: RNA stable isotope probing, a novel means of linking microbial community function to phylogeny.
abstract: Identifying microorganisms responsible for recognized environmental processes remains a great challenge in contemporary microbial ecology. Only in the last few years have methodological innovations provided access to the relationship between the function of a microbial community and the phylogeny of the organisms accountable for it. In this study stable-isotope-labeled [13C]phenol was fed into a phenol-degrading community from an aerobic industrial bioreactor, and the 13C-labeled RNA produced was used to identify the bacteria responsible for the process. Stable-isotope-labeled RNA was analyzed by equilibrium density centrifugation in concert with reverse transcription-PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. In contradiction with findings from conventional methodologies, this unique approach revealed that phenol degradation in the microbial community under investigation is dominated by a member of the Thauera genus. Our results suggest that this organism is important for the function of this bioreactor.
authors.affiliation: CEH Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SR, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manefield
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Whiteley
authors.forename: Robert I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bailey
mesh_terms: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D019800:Phenol / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D015347:RNA Probes; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D020628:Thauera / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D015347:RNA Probes; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D019800:Phenol