title: Effects of phosphate limitation on soluble microbial products and microbial community structure in semi-continuous Synechocystis-based photobioreactors.
abstract: All bacteria release organic compounds called soluble microbial products (SMP) as a part of their normal metabolism. In photobioreactor (PBR) settings, SMP produced by cyanobacteria represent a major pool of carbon and electrons available to heterotrophic bacteria. Thus, SMP in PBRs are a major driver for the growth of heterotrophic bacteria, and understanding the distribution of SMP in PBRs is an important step toward proper management of PBR microbial communities. Here, we analyzed the SMP and microbial communities in two Synechocystis sp. PCC6803-based PBRs. The first PBR (PBRP0) became phosphate limited after several days of operation, while the second PBR (PBRP+) did not have phosphate limitation. Heterotrophic bacteria were detected in both PBRs, but PBRP0 had a much higher proportion of heterotrophic bacteria than PBRP+. Furthermore, PBRP+ had greater biomass production and lower SMP production per unit biomass than PBRP0. Carbohydrates that were most likely derived from hydrolysis of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) dominated the SMP in PBRP0, while products resulting from cell lysis or decay dominated the SMP in PBRP+. Together, our data support that maintaining phosphate availability in Synechocystis-based PBRs is important for managing SMP and, thus, the heterotrophic community.
authors: Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.
authors: Alexander S
authors: AS
authors: Zevin
authors: Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.
authors: Taekgul
authors: T
authors: Nam
authors: Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.|School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, 1001 South McAllister Avenue, Tempe, Arizona, 85287-5701.
authors: Bruce
authors: B
authors: Rittmann
authors: Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. Dr.Rosy@asu.edu.|School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, 1001 South McAllister Avenue, Tempe, Arizona, 85287-5701. Dr.Rosy@asu.edu.
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Krajmalnik-Brown
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D058433:Photobioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D046939:Synechocystis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010710:Phosphates
keywords: bioenergy; biofuel; microbial ecology; photobioreactor; soluble microbial products