Non-linear dynamics of carbon and hydrogen isotopic signatures based on a biological kinetic model of nitrite-dependent methane oxidation by “Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera”

Abstract

System dynamics of nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (N-DAMO) in a "Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera" culture are described using a mathematical model based on chemical kinetics, microbial growth dynamics and equations for (13)C and (2)H isotopic fractionation. Experimental data for the N-DAMO model were taken from Rasigraf et al. (2012), who studied N-DAMO in a batch culture of "Ca. M. oxyfera" started at two different conditions with varying methane, nitrite and biomass concentrations. In the model, instead of using concentrations of each isotopologue ((12)C and (13)C, (1)H and (2)H), total concentrations and respective isotope ratios were considered as variables. The empirical Monod equations, which included methane and nitrite as two rate-limiting substrates, a threshold methane concentration CH 4min below which there was no biomass growth, and the same kinetic coefficients for the separate batch experiments, fitted the experimental data much better than apparent first-order kinetics that required rather different kinetic coefficients for the two experiments. Non-linear dynamics of (13)C and (2)H isotopic signatures were obtained based on the N-DAMO model. It was shown that rate limitation by methane or nitrite concentrations significantly affected the dynamics of carbon and hydrogen isotopic signatures. Fractionation rate increased at higher initial biomass concentration. The non-linear N-DAMO model satisfactorily described experimental data presented in the two-dimensional plot of hydrogen versus carbon stable isotopic signatures.