Selective utilization of chemically-stable phosphonate by marine microorganisms

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22337
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 40:Forestry and forest products science, applied aquatic science, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kochi University
• Principal Investigator: Yamaguchi Haruo 高知大学, 教育研究部自然科学系農学部門, 准教授 (10432816)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 西脇 永敏 高知工科大学, 環境理工学群, 教授 (30237763)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 亜リン酸 / 正リン酸 / 海洋微生物 / 細菌 / 培養 / NMR / 選択利用

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Phosphonate (phosphonic acid) that possesses a carbon-phosphorus bond is a chemically stable form of organic phosphorus. Various phosphonic acids are widely distributed in oceanic waters; in particular, methylphosphonic acid (namely methylphosphonate) is believed to be responsible for global methane production. This study investigated the utilization of phosphonic acid compounds by cultures of marine bacteria. Marine bacterial cultures, especially belonging to Alpha-Proteobacteria, were able to grow on methylphosphonic acid as well as on the tested alkyl-, carboxy-, aminoalkyl-, and hydroxyalkyl-phosphonic acid compounds. Furthermore, our Phaeobacter cultures likely utilized phosphonic acid and phosphate compounds. These results suggest that marine bacteria, which exhibit varied utilization, are involved in microbial degradation of various phosphonic acid compounds.

Free Research Field

水圏微生物生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

あらゆる生命体の必須元素ゆえにリン（P）は全ての生命活動・生物生産を支配している。近年，海洋広域で見出された有機の亜リン酸化合物は，化学的には安定な類いゆえに，難分解性と認識されている。しかし今回の研究によって，当該化合物は多くの海洋微生物に利用されやすい，むしろ「生物学的には易分解性」であることが強く示唆された。水産の根底を支える海洋微生物の生理生態ならびに重要元素リンの循環機構に関する新知見を提供するとともに，新たな実験技術の有効性を実証できたことは，水産学ならびに関連分野の学術的進展に大いに貢献するものと判断される。