Isolation and biochemical characterization of extracellular polymeric secretions (EPS) from modern soft marine stromatolites (Bahamas) and its inhibitory effect on CaCO3 precipitation

Preparative Biochemistry & Biotechnology
T Kawaguchi, A W Decho

Abstract

Bahamian soft marine stromatolites consist of cyanobacterial biofilms and carbonate sand grains (ooids) embedded in their extracellular polymeric secretions (EPS). EPS were isolated from natural marine stromatolites and the laboratory cultured stromatolite forming cyanobacterium isolate Schizothix sp. Laboratory investigations were conducted to examine biochemical characteristics and the role of EPS in the inhibition of CaCO3 precipitation. EPS consisted of acid polysaccharides and proteins. SDS-PAGE and amino acid analysis suggested that EPS from both soft marine stromatolite and Schizothrix sp. mat contained small proteins (38 kD and 45 kD) enriched in aspartic acid and glutamic acid. Also, immuno blotting suggested that natural EPS contain high molecular weight acid polysaccharide (500 k) which may represent cross-linked products of laboratory cultured Schizothrix sp. acid polysaccharide (300 k). EPS from both soft marine stromatolite and laboratory cultured Schizothrix sp. inhibited CaCO3 precipitation in vitro, as determined using pH drift assays examining pH decrease which occur in response to CaCO3 precipitation. PH drift assays of enzymatically and chemically modified EPS isolated from soft marine stromatolite and labor...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Jun 17, 2005·Extremophiles : Life Under Extreme Conditions·Purificación López-GarcíaDavid Moreira
Dec 4, 2003·Environmental Microbiology·Hans W Paerl, Timothy F Steppe
Oct 3, 2009·Geobiology·N PlanavskyP T Visscher
Dec 4, 2008·FEMS Microbiology Ecology·Olivier BraissantPieter T Visscher
Mar 2, 2016·Environmental Science & Technology·Jin Yong ChoiLynn E Katz

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
Electrophoresis

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