Multi-omics study of sulfur metabolism affecting functional microbial community succession during aerobic solid-state fermentation

Hong Zhang; Zhixin Dou; Wenhui Bi; Chuanlun Yang; Xiuyun Wu; Lushan Wang

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129664

Multi-omics study of sulfur metabolism affecting functional microbial community succession during aerobic solid-state fermentation

Bioresour Technol. 2023 Nov:387:129664. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129664. Epub 2023 Aug 12.

Authors

Hong Zhang¹, Zhixin Dou¹, Wenhui Bi², Chuanlun Yang³, Xiuyun Wu¹, Lushan Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China; Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural and Engineering University, Jinan, Shandong 250100, China.
³ Shandong Chambroad Holding Group Co., Ltd., Boxing 256599, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China. Electronic address: lswang@sdu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37573975
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129664

Abstract

Microbial-mediated sulfur metabolism is closely related to carbon and nitrogen metabolism in natural biological systems. In this study, the effects of sulfur metabolism on microbial communities and functional enzyme succession were investigated based on integrated multi-omics by adding sulfur-containing compounds to aerobic fermentation systems. Sulfur powder was oxidized to S₂O₃^2- and subsequently to SO₄^2- by the microbial sulfur-oxidizing system, which lowered the pH to 7.5 on day 7. The decrease in pH resulted in Planifilum (secreted S8, M17 and M32 proteases) losing its competitive advantage, whereas Novibacillus (secreted M14 and M19 metalloproteases) became dominant. Structural proteomics indicated that the surface of Novibacillus proteases has more negatively charged amino acid residues that help maintain protein stability at low pH. These findings aid understanding of the effects of sulfur metabolism on fermentation and the mechanism of microbial adaptation after pH reduction, providing new perspectives on the optimization of fermentation processes.

Keywords: Functional-degradome; Metaproteomics; Microbiomes; Structural proteomics; Sulfur metabolism.

MeSH terms

Fermentation
Microbiota*
Multiomics*
Sulfur / metabolism

Substances

Sulfur