Glycine Betaine Degradation via the Stickland Reaction by a Haloalkaliphilic Bacterium Halonatronomonas betaini Isolated from the Tanatar III Soda Lake

— The haloalkaliphilic microorganism Halonatronomonas betaini Z-7014 Т was found to use glycine betaine as an electron acceptor in the Stickland reaction, resulting in its subsequent degradation to trimethylamine and acetate. The electron donors used were leucine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, and serine, as well as unidentified oligopeptides present in such protein hydrolysates as yeast extract, tryptone, peptone, and soytone. The most pronounced growth stimulation by betaine was observed in the presence of yeast extract. The substrate/product ratios were determined for the combinations of amino acids and betaine, and the balance equations were obtained. This is the first report on betaine degradation in the Stickland reaction by alkaliphilic microorganisms from soda lake biocenoses.