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Possible role of reactive chlorine in microbial antagonism and organic matter chlorination in terrestrial environments.

Bengtson, Per LU ; Bastviken, David ; de Boer, Wietse and Oberg, Gunilla (2009) In Environmental Microbiology 11(6). p.1330-1339
Abstract
Summary Several studies have demonstrated that extensive formation of organically bound chlorine occurs both in soil and in decaying plant material. Previous studies suggest that enzymatic formation of reactive chlorine outside cells is a major source. However, the ecological role of microbial-induced extracellular chlorination processes remains unclear. In the present paper, we assess whether or not the literature supports the hypothesis that extracellular chlorination is involved in direct antagonism against competitors for the same resources. Our review shows that it is by no means rare that biotic processes create conditions that render biocidal concentrations of reactive chlorine compounds, which suggest that extracellular production... (More)
Summary Several studies have demonstrated that extensive formation of organically bound chlorine occurs both in soil and in decaying plant material. Previous studies suggest that enzymatic formation of reactive chlorine outside cells is a major source. However, the ecological role of microbial-induced extracellular chlorination processes remains unclear. In the present paper, we assess whether or not the literature supports the hypothesis that extracellular chlorination is involved in direct antagonism against competitors for the same resources. Our review shows that it is by no means rare that biotic processes create conditions that render biocidal concentrations of reactive chlorine compounds, which suggest that extracellular production of reactive chlorine may have an important role in antagonistic microbial interactions. To test the validity, we searched the UniprotPK database for microorganisms that are known to produce haloperoxidases. It appeared that many of the identified haloperoxidases from terrestrial environments are originating from organisms that are associated with living plants or decomposing plant material. The results of the in silico screening were supported by various field and laboratory studies on natural chlorination. Hence, the ability to produce reactive chlorine seems to be especially common in environments that are known for antibiotic-mediated competition for resources (interference competition). Yet, the ability to produce haloperoxidases is also recorded, for example, for plant endosymbionts and parasites, and there is little or no empirical evidence that suggests that these organisms are antagonistic. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Environmental Microbiology
volume
11
issue
6
pages
1330 - 1339
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000266597200002
  • scopus:66649099076
  • pmid:19453612
ISSN
1462-2920
DOI
10.1111/j.1462-2920.2009.01915.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a79088b6-c89e-4f75-8163-bcb17056455a (old id 1412153)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:13:21
date last changed
2022-01-27 00:38:35
@article{a79088b6-c89e-4f75-8163-bcb17056455a,
  abstract     = {{Summary Several studies have demonstrated that extensive formation of organically bound chlorine occurs both in soil and in decaying plant material. Previous studies suggest that enzymatic formation of reactive chlorine outside cells is a major source. However, the ecological role of microbial-induced extracellular chlorination processes remains unclear. In the present paper, we assess whether or not the literature supports the hypothesis that extracellular chlorination is involved in direct antagonism against competitors for the same resources. Our review shows that it is by no means rare that biotic processes create conditions that render biocidal concentrations of reactive chlorine compounds, which suggest that extracellular production of reactive chlorine may have an important role in antagonistic microbial interactions. To test the validity, we searched the UniprotPK database for microorganisms that are known to produce haloperoxidases. It appeared that many of the identified haloperoxidases from terrestrial environments are originating from organisms that are associated with living plants or decomposing plant material. The results of the in silico screening were supported by various field and laboratory studies on natural chlorination. Hence, the ability to produce reactive chlorine seems to be especially common in environments that are known for antibiotic-mediated competition for resources (interference competition). Yet, the ability to produce haloperoxidases is also recorded, for example, for plant endosymbionts and parasites, and there is little or no empirical evidence that suggests that these organisms are antagonistic.}},
  author       = {{Bengtson, Per and Bastviken, David and de Boer, Wietse and Oberg, Gunilla}},
  issn         = {{1462-2920}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{1330--1339}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Environmental Microbiology}},
  title        = {{Possible role of reactive chlorine in microbial antagonism and organic matter chlorination in terrestrial environments.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1462-2920.2009.01915.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1462-2920.2009.01915.x}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}