Sulphite as Intermediate Sulphur Compound in Anaerobic Sulphide Oxidation to Thiosulphate by Marine Cyanobacteria

Abstract

Anaerobic sulphide oxidation in the light was studied with seven cyanobacterial strains isolated from the southern Baltic Sea. All strains oxidized sulphide (1.2-3.5 mM) stoichiometrically to thiosulphate. No elemental sulphur could be detected as end product of anoxygenic photosynthesis. Sulphite as intermediate sulphur compound was released into the growth medium during anaerobic sulphide oxidation by these cyanobacteria. The formation of sulphite from sulphide was inhibited by the photosynthesis inhibitor DCMU. The cyanobacterium Oscillatoria sp. strain BO 32 produced another so far not identified intermediate sulphur compound which was probably stored within the cells. © 1995, Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung. All rights reserved.