Utilisation of aminomethane sulfonate by Chromohalobacter marismortui VH1

Chromohalobacter marismortui VH1 was screened for its ability to utilise organosulfonate compounds at a range of NaCl concentrations. Only aminomethane sulfonate, of seven sulfonates tested, was utilised. Length of lag phase during growth on aminomethane sulfonate, as either nitrogen and/or sulfur source, increased with increasing NaCl concentration. Cell yields increased linearly with increasing aminomethane sulfonate concentration up to 5 mM. Resting cells pregrown on aminomethane sulfonate as sole nitrogen source exhibited carbon-sulfur bond cleaving [0.123 nmol sulfate accumulated h(-1) (mg cells)(-1)] and sulfite-oxidising [0.185 nmol sulfate accumulated h(-1) (mg cells)(-1)] activities. C. marismortui VH1 is capable of sulfur-starvation deregulated metabolism of aminomethane sulfonate under high salt conditions.