Isotope labeling and microautoradiography of active heterotrophic bacteria on the basis of assimilation of 14CO2

Most heterotrophic bacteria assimilate CO2 in various carboxylation reactions during biosynthesis. In this study, assimilation of (CO2)-C-14 by heterotrophic bacteria was used for isotope labeling of active microorganisms in pure cultures and environmental samples. Labeled cells were visualized by microautoradiography (MAR) combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to obtain simultaneous information about activity and identity. Cultures of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida assimilated sufficient (CO2)-C-14 during growth on various organic substrates to obtain positive MAR signals. The MAR signals were comparable with the traditional MAR approach based on uptake of C-14-labeled organic substrates. Experiments with E. coli showed that (CO2)-C-14 was assimilated during both fermentation and aerobic and anaerobic respiration. The new MAR approach, HetCO(2)-MAR, was evaluated by targeting metabolic active filamentous bacteria, including Candidatus Microthrix parvicella in activated sludge. Ca. Microthrix parvicella was able to take up oleic acid tinder anaerobic conditions, as shown by the traditional MAR approach with [C-14]oleic acid. However, the new HetCO(2)-MAR approach indicated that Ca. Microthrix parvicella, did not significantly grow on oleic acid tinder anaerobic conditions with or without addition of NO2-, whereas the addition of O-2(-) or NO3- initiated growth, as indicated by detectable (CO2)-C-14 assimilation. This is a metabolic feature that has not been described previously for filamentous bacteria. Such information could not have been derived by using the traditional MAR procedure, whereas the new HetCO(2)-MAR approach differentiates better between substrate uptake and substrate metabolism that result in growth. The HetCO(2)-MAR results were supported by stable isotope analysis of C-13-labeled phospholipid fatty acids from activated sludge incubated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions in the presence of (CO2)-C-13. In conclusion, the novel HetCO(2)-MAR approach expands the possibility for studies of the ecophysiology of uncultivated microorganisms.