Microbial degradation of sulfoquinovose and plant sulfolipids

• Applicant: Professor David Schleheck, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 270766152

Sulfoquinovose (SQ; 6-deoxy-6-sulfoglucose) is the polar headgroup of the sulfolipid sulfoquinovosyl diacylgycerol (SQDG) in the photosynthetic membranes of all higher plants, mosses, ferns and algae, and in most photosynthetic bacteria. The global production of SQ by phototrophs has been estimated to comprise app. 10,000,000,000 tons per year. Thus, the degradation and recycling of the sulfur bound in SQDG/SQ in form of inorganic sulfite or sulfate by bacteria, is an important step of the biogeochemical sulfur cycle. However, the study of the SQDG/SQ degradation pathways in bacteria, and of the biochemistry, enzymes and genes involved, has just been started (my preliminary work). The aim of the proposed project is to define the different pathways, intermediates and the enzymes and genes involved in SQ and SGDG utilization by different aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, through enrichment and isolation, genomics, reverse genetics, biochemistry and analytical chemistry.Hence, the project will produce invaluable information on yet unknown biochemistry, intermediates, enzymes and genes, and will provide a more detailed understanding of the functions and roles of microbes in the biogeochemical sulfur cycle.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants