Magnetite-producing magnetotactic bacteria collected from the oxic–anoxic transition zone of chemically stratified marine environments characterized by O
2/H
2S inverse double gradients, contained internal S-rich inclusions resembling elemental S globules, suggesting they oxidize reduced S compounds that could support autotrophy. Two strains of marine magnetotactic bacteria, MV-1 and MV-2, isolated from such sites grew in O
2-gradient media with H
2S or thiosulfate (S
2O
32–) as electron sources and O
2 as electron acceptor or anaerobically with S
2O
32– and N
2O as electron acceptor, with bicarbonate (HCO
3–)/CO
2 as sole C source. Cells grown with H
2S contained S-rich inclusions. Cells oxidized S
2O
32– to sulfate (SO
42–). Both strains grew microaerobically with formate. Neither grew microaerobically with tetrathionate (S
4O
62–), methanol, or Fe
2+ as FeS, or siderite (FeCO
3). Growth with S
2O
32– and radiolabeled
14C-HCO
3– showed that cell C was derived from HCO
3–/CO
2. Cell-free extracts showed ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) activity. Southern blot analyses indicated the presence of a form II RubisCO (
cbbM) but no form I (
cbbL) in both strains.
cbbM and
cbbQ, a putative post-translational activator of RubisCO, were identified in MV-1. MV-1 and MV-2 are thus chemolithoautotrophs that use the Calvin–Benson–Bassham pathway.
cbbM was also identified in
Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum. Thus, magnetotactic bacteria at the oxic–anoxic transition zone of chemically stratified aquatic environments are important in C cycling and primary productivity.
Keywords Calvin–Benson–Bassham pathway - cbbM - cbbQ - Chemolithoautotrophy - Chemoorganoautotrophy - Magnetite - Magnetotactic bacterium - Reductive pentose phosphate pathway - Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase