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Mühling L, Baur T, Molitor B. Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus and Alternative Methanogens: Archaea-Based Production. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39363002 DOI: 10.1007/10_2024_270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2024]
Abstract
Methanogenic archaea convert bacterial fermentation intermediates from the decomposition of organic material into methane. This process has relevance in the global carbon cycle and finds application in anthropogenic processes, such as wastewater treatment and anaerobic digestion. Furthermore, methanogenic archaea that utilize hydrogen and carbon dioxide as substrates are being employed as biocatalysts for the biomethanation step of power-to-gas technology. This technology converts hydrogen from water electrolysis and carbon dioxide into renewable natural gas (i.e., methane). The application of methanogenic archaea in bioproduction beyond methane has been demonstrated in only a few instances and is limited to mesophilic species for which genetic engineering tools are available. In this chapter, we discuss recent developments for those existing genetically tractable systems and the inclusion of novel genetic tools for thermophilic methanogenic species. We then give an overview of recombinant bioproduction with mesophilic methanogenic archaea and thermophilic non-methanogenic microbes. This is the basis for discussing putative products with thermophilic methanogenic archaea, specifically the species Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. We give estimates of potential conversion efficiencies for those putative products based on a genome-scale metabolic model for M. thermautotrophicus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Mühling
- Environmental Biotechnology Group, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tina Baur
- Environmental Biotechnology Group, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence - Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bastian Molitor
- Environmental Biotechnology Group, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence - Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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Du Q, Wei Y, Zhang L, Ren D, Gao J, Dong X, Bai L, Li J. An improved CRISPR and CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) toolkit for engineering the model methanogenic archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:239. [PMID: 39227830 PMCID: PMC11373211 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02492-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The type II based CRISPR-Cas system remains restrictedly utilized in archaea, a featured domain of life that ranks parallelly with Bacteria and Eukaryotes. Methanococcus maripaludis, known for rapid growth and genetic tractability, serves as an exemplary model for studying archaeal biology and exploring CO2-based biotechnological applications. However, tools for controlled gene regulation remain deficient and CRISPR-Cas tools still need improved in this archaeon, limiting its application as an archaeal model cellular factory. RESULTS This study not only improved the CRISPR-Cas9 system for optimizing multiplex genome editing and CRISPR plasmid construction efficiencies but also pioneered an effective CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) system for controlled gene regulation in M. maripaludis. We developed two novel strategies for balanced expression of multiple sgRNAs, facilitating efficient multiplex genome editing. We also engineered a strain expressing Cas9 genomically, which simplified the CRISPR plasmid construction and facilitated more efficient genome modifications, including markerless and scarless gene knock-in. Importantly, we established a CRISPRi system using catalytic inactive dCas9, achieving up to 100-fold repression on target gene. Here, sgRNAs targeting near and downstream regions of the transcription start site and the 5'end ORF achieved the highest repression efficacy. Furthermore, we developed an inducible CRISPRi-dCas9 system based on TetR/tetO platform. This facilitated the inducible gene repression, especially for essential genes. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, these advancements not only expand the toolkit for genetic manipulation but also bridge methodological gaps for controlled gene regulation, especially for essential genes, in M. maripaludis. The robust toolkit developed here paves the way for applying M. maripaludis as a vital model archaeal cell factory, facilitating fundamental biological studies and applied biotechnology development of archaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Du
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 Beichen West Road, Beijing, 100101, China
- Key Laboratory of Development and Application of Rural Renewable Energy, Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yufei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 Beichen West Road, Beijing, 100101, China
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Liuyang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 Beichen West Road, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Derong Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 Beichen West Road, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jian Gao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Xiuzhu Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 Beichen West Road, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Liping Bai
- Key Laboratory of Development and Application of Rural Renewable Energy, Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 Beichen West Road, Beijing, 100101, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China.
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Myers T, Dykstra CM. Teaching old dogs new tricks: genetic engineering methanogens. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0224723. [PMID: 38856201 PMCID: PMC11267900 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02247-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Methanogenic archaea, which are integral to global carbon and nitrogen cycling, currently face challenges in genetic manipulation due to unique physiology and limited genetic tools. This review provides a survey of current and past developments in the genetic engineering of methanogens, including selection and counterselection markers, reporter systems, shuttle vectors, mutagenesis methods, markerless genetic exchange, and gene expression control. This review discusses genetic tools and emphasizes challenges tied to tool scarcity for specific methanogenic species. Mutagenesis techniques for methanogens, including physicochemical, transposon-mediated, liposome-mediated mutagenesis, and natural transformation, are outlined, along with achievements and challenges. Markerless genetic exchange strategies, such as homologous recombination and CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing, are also detailed. Finally, the review concludes by examining the control of gene expression in methanogens. The information presented underscores the urgent need for refined genetic tools in archaeal research. Despite historical challenges, recent advancements, notably CRISPR-based systems, hold promise for overcoming obstacles, with implications for global health, agriculture, climate change, and environmental engineering. This comprehensive review aims to bridge existing gaps in the literature, guiding future research in the expanding field of archaeal genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Myers
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Christy M. Dykstra
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
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Xu Q, Du Q, Gao J, Chen L, Dong X, Li J. A robust genetic toolbox for fine-tuning gene expression in the CO 2-Fixing methanogenic archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis. Metab Eng 2023; 79:130-145. [PMID: 37495072 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Libraries of well-characterized genetic elements for fine-tuning gene expression are essential for biological and biotechnological research and applications. The fast-growing and genetically tractable methanogen, Methanococcus maripaludis, is a promising host organism for biotechnological conversion of carbon dioxide and renewable hydrogen into fuels and value-added products, as well as fundamental biological studies of archaea. However, the lack of molecular tools for gene expression has hindered its application as a workhorse to fine-tune gene and metabolic pathway expressions. In this study, we developed a genetic toolbox, including libraries of promoters, ribosome binding sites (RBS), and neutral sites for chromosomal integration, to facilitate precise gene expression in M. maripaludis. We generated a promoter library consisting of 81 constitutive promoters with expression strengths spanning a ∼104-fold dynamic range. Importantly, we identified a base composition rule for strong archaeal promoters and successfully remodeled weak promoters, enhancing their activities by up to 120-fold. We also established an RBS library containing 42 diverse RBS sequences with translation strengths covering a ∼100-fold dynamic range. Additionally, we identified eight neutral sites and developed a one-step, Cas9-based marker-less knock-in approach for chromosomal integration. We successfully applied the characterized promoter and RBS elements to significantly improve recombinant protein expression by 41-fold and modulate essential gene expression to generate corresponding physiological changes in M. maripaludis. Therefore, this work establishes a solid foundation for utilizing this autotrophic methanogen as an ideal workhorse for archaeal biology and biotechnological studies and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Xu
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China; State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Qing Du
- Key Laboratory of Development and Application of Rural Renewable Energy, Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jian Gao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Biomedical Engineering, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xiuzhu Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China.
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Application of the Fluorescence-Activating and Absorption-Shifting Tag (FAST) for Flow Cytometry in Methanogenic Archaea. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0178622. [PMID: 36920214 PMCID: PMC10132111 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01786-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Methane-producing archaea play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle and are used for biotechnological fuel production. Methanogenic model organisms such as Methanococcus maripaludis and Methanosarcina acetivorans have been biochemically characterized and can be genetically engineered by using a variety of existing molecular tools. The anaerobic lifestyle and autofluorescence of methanogens, however, restrict the use of common fluorescent reporter proteins (e.g., GFP and derivatives), which require oxygen for chromophore maturation. Recently, the use of a novel oxygen-independent fluorescent activation and absorption-shifting tag (FAST) was demonstrated with M. maripaludis. Similarly, we now describe the use of the tandem activation and absorption-shifting tag protein 2 (tdFAST2), which fluoresces when the cell-permeable fluorescent ligand (fluorogen) 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzylidene rhodanine (HBR-3,5DOM) is present. Expression of tdFAST2 in M. acetivorans and M. maripaludis is noncytotoxic and tdFAST2:HBR-3,5DOM fluorescence is clearly distinguishable from the autofluorescence. In flow cytometry experiments, mixed methanogen cultures can be distinguished, thereby allowing for the possibility of high-throughput investigations of the characteristic dynamics within single and mixed cultures. IMPORTANCE Methane-producing archaea play an essential role in the global carbon cycle and demonstrate great potential for various biotechnological applications, e.g., biofuel production, carbon dioxide capture, and electrochemical systems. Oxygen sensitivity and high autofluorescence hinder the use of common fluorescent proteins for studying methanogens. By using tdFAST2:HBR-3,5DOM fluorescence, which functions under anaerobic conditions and is distinguishable from the autofluorescence, real-time reporter studies and high-throughput investigation of the mixed culture dynamics of methanogens via flow cytometry were made possible. This will further help accelerate the sustainable exploitation of methanogens.
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Ricci L, Seifert A, Bernacchi S, Fino D, Pirri CF, Re A. Leveraging substrate flexibility and product selectivity of acetogens in two-stage systems for chemical production. Microb Biotechnol 2023; 16:218-237. [PMID: 36464980 PMCID: PMC9871533 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) stands out as sustainable feedstock for developing a circular carbon economy whose energy supply could be obtained by boosting the production of clean hydrogen from renewable electricity. H2 -dependent CO2 gas fermentation using acetogenic microorganisms offers a viable solution of increasingly demonstrated value. While gas fermentation advances to achieve commercial process scalability, which is currently limited to a few products such as acetate and ethanol, it is worth taking the best of the current state-of-the-art technology by its integration within innovative bioconversion schemes. This review presents multiple scenarios where gas fermentation by acetogens integrate into double-stage biotechnological production processes that use CO2 as sole carbon feedstock and H2 as energy carrier for products' synthesis. In the integration schemes here reviewed, the first stage can be biotic or abiotic while the second stage is biotic. When the first stage is biotic, acetogens act as a biological platform to generate chemical intermediates such as acetate, formate and ethanol that become substrates for a second fermentation stage. This approach holds the potential to enhance process titre/rate/yield metrics and products' spectrum. Alternatively, when the first stage is abiotic, the integrated two-stage scheme foresees, in the first stage, the catalytic transformation of CO2 into C1 products that, in the second stage, can be metabolized by acetogens. This latter scheme leverages the metabolic flexibility of acetogens in efficient utilization of the products of CO2 abiotic hydrogenation, namely formate and methanol, to synthesize multicarbon compounds but also to act as flexible catalysts for hydrogen storage or production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ricci
- Department of Applied Science and TechnologyPolitecnico di TorinoTurinItaly
- Centre for Sustainable Future TechnologiesFondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaTurinItaly
| | | | | | - Debora Fino
- Department of Applied Science and TechnologyPolitecnico di TorinoTurinItaly
- Centre for Sustainable Future TechnologiesFondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaTurinItaly
| | - Candido Fabrizio Pirri
- Department of Applied Science and TechnologyPolitecnico di TorinoTurinItaly
- Centre for Sustainable Future TechnologiesFondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaTurinItaly
| | - Angela Re
- Department of Applied Science and TechnologyPolitecnico di TorinoTurinItaly
- Centre for Sustainable Future TechnologiesFondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaTurinItaly
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Lv X, Yu W, Zhang C, Ning P, Li J, Liu Y, Du G, Liu L. C1-based biomanufacturing: Advances, challenges and perspectives. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 367:128259. [PMID: 36347475 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
One-carbon (C1) compounds have emerged as a key research focus due to the growth of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology as affordable and sustainable nonfood sugar feedstocks for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly biomanufacturing. This paper summarizes and discusses current developments in C1 compounds for biomanufacturing. First, two primary groups of microbes that use C1 compounds (native and synthetic) are introduced, and the traits, categorization, and functions of C1 microbes are summarized. Second, engineering strategies for C1 utilization are compiled and reviewed, including reconstruction of C1-utilization pathway, enzyme engineering, cofactor engineering, genome-scale modeling, and adaptive laboratory evolution. Third, a review of C1 compounds' uses in the synthesis of biofuels and high-value compounds is presented. Finally, potential obstacles to C1-based biomanufacturing are highlighted along with future research initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqin Lv
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Baima Future Foods Research Institute, Nanjing 211225, China
| | - Wenwen Yu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Chenyang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Peng Ning
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Jianghua Li
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yanfeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Guocheng Du
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Long Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
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8
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Palabikyan H, Ruddyard A, Pomper L, Novak D, Reischl B, Rittmann SKMR. Scale-up of biomass production by Methanococcus maripaludis. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1031131. [PMID: 36504798 PMCID: PMC9727139 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1031131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of a sustainable energy economy is one of the great challenges in the current times of climate crisis and growing energy demands. Industrial production of the fifth-generation biofuel methane by microorganisms has the potential to become a crucial biotechnological milestone of the post fossil fuel era. Therefore, reproducible cultivation and scale-up of methanogenic archaea (methanogens) is essential for enabling biomass generation for fundamental studies and for defining peak performance conditions for bioprocess development. This study provides a comprehensive revision of established and optimization of novel methods for the cultivation of the model organism Methanococcus maripaludis S0001. In closed batch mode, 0.05 L serum bottles cultures were gradually replaced by 0.4 L Schott bottle cultures for regular biomass generation, and the time for reaching peak optical density (OD578) values was reduced in half. In 1.5 L reactor cultures, various agitation, harvesting and transfer methods were compared resulting in a specific growth rate of 0.16 h-1 and the highest recorded OD578 of 3.4. Finally, a 300-fold scale-up from serum bottles was achieved by growing M. maripaludis for the first time in a 22 L stainless steel bioreactor with 15 L working volume. Altogether, the experimental approaches described in this study contribute to establishing methanogens as essential organisms in large-scale biotechnology applications, a crucial stage of an urgently needed industrial evolution toward sustainable biosynthesis of energy and high value products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayk Palabikyan
- Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Aquilla Ruddyard
- Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria,Arkeon GmbH, Tulln a.d. Donau, Austria
| | - Lara Pomper
- Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - David Novak
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Barbara Reischl
- Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria,Arkeon GmbH, Tulln a.d. Donau, Austria
| | - Simon K.-M. R. Rittmann
- Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria,Arkeon GmbH, Tulln a.d. Donau, Austria,*Correspondence: Simon K.-M. R. Rittmann,
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Lyu Z, Rotaru AE, Pimentel M, Zhang CJ, Rittmann SKMR. Editorial: The methane moment - Cross-boundary significance of methanogens: Preface. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1055494. [PMID: 36504803 PMCID: PMC9731359 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1055494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Lyu
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Zhe Lyu
| | - Amelia-Elena Rotaru
- Nordic Center for Earth Evolution (NORDCEE), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark,Amelia-Elena Rotaru
| | - Mark Pimentel
- Medically Associated Science and Technology (MAST) Program, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA, United States,Mark Pimentel
| | - Cui-Jing Zhang
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China,Cui-Jing Zhang
| | - Simon K.-M. R. Rittmann
- Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria,Arkeon GmbH, Tulln a.d. Donau, Austria,Simon K.-M. R. Rittmann
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Li J, Akinyemi TS, Shao N, Chen C, Dong X, Liu Y, Whitman WB. Genetic and Metabolic Engineering of Methanococcus spp. CURRENT RESEARCH IN BIOTECHNOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crbiot.2022.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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Qiao W, Xu S, Liu Z, Fu X, Zhao H, Shi S. Challenges and opportunities in C1-based biomanufacturing. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 364:128095. [PMID: 36220528 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The intensifying impact of green-house gas (GHG) emission on environment and climate change has attracted increasing attention, and biorefinery represents one of the most effective routes for reducing GHG emissions from human activities. However, this requires a shift for microbial fermentation from the current use of sugars to the use of biomass, and even better to the primary fixation of single carbon (C1) compounds. Here how microorganisms can be engineered for fixation and conversion of C1 compounds into metabolites that can serve as fuels and platform chemicals are reviewed. Meanwhile, key factors for utilization of these different pathways are discussed, followed by challenges and barriers for the development of C1-based biorefinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weibo Qiao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Shijie Xu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Zihe Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xiaoying Fu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Huimin Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Shuobo Shi
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.
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Li J, Zhang L, Xu Q, Zhang W, Li Z, Chen L, Dong X. CRISPR-Cas9 Toolkit for Genome Editing in an Autotrophic CO 2-Fixing Methanogenic Archaeon. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0116522. [PMID: 35766512 PMCID: PMC9430280 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01165-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR-Cas9 system is a robust genome editing tool that is widely applied in eukaryotes and bacteria. However, use of this technique has only been developed for one species of Archaea, a domain of life ranking in parallel with Eukarya and Bacteria. In this study, we applied the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technique to Methanococcus maripaludis, an autotrophic and hydrogenotrophic methanogenic archaeon with a remarkably polyploid genome comprising up to ~55 chromosomal copies per cell. An editing plasmid was designed that encodes small guide RNA (sgRNA), Cas9 protein and an ~1-kb repair template (donor). Highly efficient (75% to 100%) and precise genome editing was achieved following one-step transformation. Significantly, the Cas9-based system efficiently deleted one or two genes and a large DNA fragment (~9 kb) and even synchronously deleted 13 genes located at three loci in all chromosomal copies of M. maripaludis. Moreover, precise in situ genome modifications, such as gene tagging and multiple- and even single-nucleotide mutagenesis, were also introduced with high efficiency. Further, as a proof of concept, precise mutagenesis at the nucleotide level allowed the engineering of both transcriptional and translational activities. Mutations were introduced into an archaeal promoter BRE (transcription factor B [TFB] recognition element), a terminator U-tract region, and a gene coding region. Stop codon introduction into a gene through single-nucleotide substitution shut down its expression, providing an alternative strategy for gene inactivation. In conclusion, the robust CRISPR-Cas9 genetic toolkit developed in this investigation greatly facilitates the application of M. maripaludis as a model system in the study of archaeal biology and biotechnology development, particularly CO2-based biotechnologies. IMPORTANCE Archaea are prokaryotes with intriguing biological characteristics. They possess bacterial cell structures but eukaryotic homologous information processing machinery and eukaryotic featured proteins. Archaea also display excellent adaptability to extreme environments and play pivotal roles in ecological processes, thus exhibiting valuable biotechnological potential. However, the in-depth understanding and practical application of archaea are much lagging, because only a minority of pure cultures are available, and even worse, very few can be genetically manipulated. This work developed CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing technology in Methanococcus maripaludis, a CO2-fixing methanogenic archaeon. The CRISPR-Cas9 approach developed in this study provides an elegant and efficient genome editing toolkit that can be applied in the knockout of single or multiple genes, in situ gene tagging, multiple- or single-nucleotide mutagenesis, and inactivation of gene expression by introduction of stop codons. The successful development of the CRISPR-Cas9 toolkit will facilitate the application of M. maripaludis in archaeal biology research and biotechnology development, particularly CO2-derived biotechnologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liuyang Zhang
- Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Qing Xu
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wenting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiuzhu Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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13
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Bao J, de Dios Mateos E, Scheller S. Efficient CRISPR/Cas12a-Based Genome-Editing Toolbox for Metabolic Engineering in Methanococcus maripaludis. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:2496-2503. [PMID: 35730587 PMCID: PMC9295151 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
![]()
The rapid-growing
and genetically tractable methanogen Methanococcus
maripaludis is a promising host organism
for the biotechnological conversion of carbon dioxide and renewable
hydrogen to fuels and value-added products. Expansion of its product
scope through metabolic engineering necessitates reliable and efficient
genetic tools, particularly for genome edits that affect the primary
metabolism and cell growth. Here, we have designed a genome-editing
toolbox by utilizing Cas12a from Lachnospiraceae bacterium ND2006 (LbCas12a) in combination with the homology-directed repair
machinery endogenously present in M. maripaludis. This toolbox can delete target genes with a success rate of up
to 95%, despite the hyperpolyploidy of M. maripaludis. For the purpose of demonstrating a large deletion, the M. maripaludis flagellum operon (∼8.9 kbp)
was replaced by the Escherichia coli β-glucuronidase gene. To facilitate metabolic engineering
and flux balancing in M. maripaludis, the relative strength of 15 different promoters was quantified
in the presence of two common growth substrates, either formate or
carbon dioxide and hydrogen. This CRISPR/LbCas12a toolbox can be regarded
as a reliable and quick method for genome editing in a methanogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jichen Bao
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Enrique de Dios Mateos
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Silvan Scheller
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland
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14
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Engineering nonphotosynthetic carbon fixation for production of bioplastics by methanogenic archaea. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2118638119. [PMID: 35639688 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2118638119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
SignificanceBiological carbon fixation provides opportunities to directly utilize CO2 to synthesize a broad range of value-added compounds, potentially displacing petroleum feedstock use in industry. Chemoautotrophs are particularly interesting as their carbon fixation can be driven chemically by renewable H2 in place of light, which can limit industrial fermentation of photosynthetic organisms. We describe the development of a methanogenic host, Methanococcus maripaludis, for metabolic engineering. Since redox cofactors used in upstream archaeal carbon fixation pathways are orthogonal to typical downstream biosynthetic pathways, it was necessary to engineer both NADH biosynthesis and turnover. In doing so, we are able to show that methanogenic archaea can, indeed, serve as a platform for the high-yield production of bioplastics and monomers from CO2 and H2.
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15
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Zhao C, Wang XH, Lu XY, Zong H, Zhuge B. Tuning Geraniol Biosynthesis via a Novel Decane-Responsive Promoter in Candida glycerinogenes. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:1835-1844. [PMID: 35507528 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Geraniol is a rose-scented monoterpene with significant commercial and industrial value in medicine, condiments, cosmetics, and bioenergy. Here, we first targeted geraniol as a reporter metabolite and explored the suitability and potential of Candida glycerinogenes as a heterologous host for monoterpenoid production. Subsequently, dual-pathway engineering was employed to improve the production of geraniol with a geraniol titer of 858.4 mg/L. We then applied a synthetic hybrid promoter approach to develop a decane-responsive hybrid promoter based on the native promoter PGAP derived from C. glycerinogenes itself. The hybrid promoter was able to be induced by n-decane with 3.6 times higher transcriptional intensity than the natural promoter PGAP. In particular, the hybrid promoter effectively reduces the conflict between cell growth and product formation in the production of geraniol. Ultimately, 1194.6 mg/L geraniol was obtained at the shake flask level. The strong and tunable decane-responsive hybrid promoter developed in this study provides an important tool for fine regulation of toxic terpenoid production in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cui Zhao
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Research Centre of Industrial Microbiology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xi-Hui Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Research Centre of Industrial Microbiology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xin-Yao Lu
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Research Centre of Industrial Microbiology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Hong Zong
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Research Centre of Industrial Microbiology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Bin Zhuge
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Research Centre of Industrial Microbiology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
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16
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Identification of a protein responsible for the synthesis of archaeal membrane-spanning GDGT lipids. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1545. [PMID: 35318330 PMCID: PMC8941075 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29264-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) are archaeal monolayer membrane lipids that can provide a competitive advantage in extreme environments. Here, we identify a radical SAM protein, tetraether synthase (Tes), that participates in the synthesis of GDGTs. Attempts to generate a tes-deleted mutant in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius were unsuccessful, suggesting that the gene is essential in this organism. Heterologous expression of tes homologues leads to production of GDGT and structurally related lipids in the methanogen Methanococcus maripaludis (which otherwise does not synthesize GDGTs and lacks a tes homolog, but produces a putative GDGT precursor, archaeol). Tes homologues are encoded in the genomes of many archaea, as well as in some bacteria, in which they might be involved in the synthesis of bacterial branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers.
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17
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Innard N, Chong JPJ. The challenges of monitoring and manipulating anaerobic microbial communities. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 344:126326. [PMID: 34780902 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mixed anaerobic microbial communities are a key component in valorization of waste biomass via anaerobic digestion. Similar microbial communities are important as soil and animal microbiomes and have played a critical role in shaping the planet as it is today. Understanding how individual species within communities interact with others and their environment is important for improving performance and potential applications of an inherently green technology. Here, the challenges associated with making measurements critical to assessing the status of anaerobic microbial communities are considered. How these measurements could be incorporated into control philosophies and augment the potential of anaerobic microbial communities to produce different and higher value products from waste materials are discussed. The benefits and pitfalls of current genetic and molecular approaches to measuring and manipulating anaerobic microbial communities and the challenges which should be addressed to realise the potential of this exciting technology are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Innard
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - James P J Chong
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
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18
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Contreras G, Thomsen J, Pfitzer M, Hafenbradl D, Kostner D, Holtmann D, Schmitz R, Rother M, Molitor B. New perspectives for biotechnological applications of methanogens. CURRENT RESEARCH IN BIOTECHNOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crbiot.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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19
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A Shuttle-Vector System Allows Heterologous Gene Expression in the Thermophilic Methanogen Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus ΔH. mBio 2021; 12:e0276621. [PMID: 34809461 PMCID: PMC8609365 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02766-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Thermophilic Methanothermobacter spp. are used as model microbes to study the physiology and biochemistry of the conversion of molecular hydrogen and carbon dioxide into methane (i.e., hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis). Yet, a genetic system for these model microbes was missing despite intensive work for four decades. Here, we report the successful implementation of genetic tools for Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus ΔH. We developed shuttle vectors that replicated in Escherichia coli and M. thermautotrophicus ΔH. For M. thermautotrophicus ΔH, a thermostable neomycin resistance cassette served as the selectable marker for positive selection with neomycin, and the cryptic plasmid pME2001 from Methanothermobacter marburgensis served as the replicon. The shuttle-vector DNA was transferred from E. coli into M. thermautotrophicus ΔH via interdomain conjugation. After the successful validation of DNA transfer and positive selection in M. thermautotrophicus ΔH, we demonstrated heterologous gene expression of a thermostable β-galactosidase-encoding gene (bgaB) from Geobacillus stearothermophilus under the expression control of four distinct synthetic and native promoters. In quantitative in-vitro enzyme activity assay, we found significantly different β-galactosidase activity with these distinct promoters. With a formate dehydrogenase operon-encoding shuttle vector, we allowed growth of M. thermautotrophicus ΔH on formate as the sole growth substrate, while this was not possible for the empty-vector control.
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20
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Carruthers DN, Lee TS. Diversifying Isoprenoid Platforms via Atypical Carbon Substrates and Non-model Microorganisms. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:791089. [PMID: 34925299 PMCID: PMC8677530 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.791089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Isoprenoid compounds are biologically ubiquitous, and their characteristic modularity has afforded products ranging from pharmaceuticals to biofuels. Isoprenoid production has been largely successful in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae with metabolic engineering of the mevalonate (MVA) and methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathways coupled with the expression of heterologous terpene synthases. Yet conventional microbial chassis pose several major obstacles to successful commercialization including the affordability of sugar substrates at scale, precursor flux limitations, and intermediate feedback-inhibition. Now, recent studies have challenged typical isoprenoid paradigms by expanding the boundaries of terpene biosynthesis and using non-model organisms including those capable of metabolizing atypical C1 substrates. Conversely, investigations of non-model organisms have historically informed optimization in conventional microbes by tuning heterologous gene expression. Here, we review advances in isoprenoid biosynthesis with specific focus on the synergy between model and non-model organisms that may elevate the commercial viability of isoprenoid platforms by addressing the dichotomy between high titer production and inexpensive substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- David N Carruthers
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, United States.,Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Taek Soon Lee
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, United States.,Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
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21
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Lai CY, Zhou L, Yuan Z, Guo J. Hydrogen-driven microbial biogas upgrading: Advances, challenges and solutions. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 197:117120. [PMID: 33862393 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
As a clean and renewable energy, biogas is an important alternative to fossil fuels. However, the high carbon dioxide (CO2) content in biogas limits its value as a fuel. 'Biogas upgrading' is an advanced process which removes CO2 from biogas, thereby converting biogas to biomethane, which has a higher commercial value. Microbial technologies offer a sustainable and cost-effective way to upgrade biogas, removing CO2 using hydrogen (H2) as electron donor, generated by surplus electricity from renewable wind or solar energy. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens can be applied to convert CO2 with H2 to methane (CH4), or alternatively, homoacetogens can convert both CO2 and H2 into value-added chemicals. Here, we comprehensively review the current state of biogas generation and utilization, and describe the advances in biological, H2-dependent biogas upgrading technologies, with particular attention to key challenges associated with the processes, e.g., metabolic limitations, low H2 transfer rate, and finite CO2 conversion rate. We also highlight several new strategies for overcoming technical barriers to achieve efficient CO2 conversion, including process optimization to eliminate metabolic limitation, novel reactor designs to improve H2 transfer rate and utilization efficiency, and employing advanced genetic engineering tools to generate more efficient microorganisms. The insights offered in this review will promote further exploration into microbial, H2-driven biogas upgrading, towards addressing the global energy crisis and climate change associated with use of fossil fuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Yu Lai
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Linjie Zhou
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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22
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Guo S, Asset T, Atanassov P. Catalytic Hybrid Electrocatalytic/Biocatalytic Cascades for Carbon Dioxide Reduction and Valorization. ACS Catal 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c04862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shengyuan Guo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National Fuel Cell Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Tristan Asset
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National Fuel Cell Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Plamen Atanassov
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National Fuel Cell Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
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23
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Anaerobic Production of Isoprene by Engineered Methanosarcina Species Archaea. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:AEM.02417-20. [PMID: 33452028 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02417-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Isoprene is a valuable petrochemical used for a wide variety of consumer goods, such as adhesives and synthetic rubber. We were able to achieve a high yield of renewable isoprene by taking advantage of the naturally high-flux mevalonate lipid synthesis pathway in anaerobic methane-producing archaea (methanogens). Our study illustrates that by genetically manipulating Methanosarcina species methanogens, it is possible to create organisms that grow by producing the hemiterpene isoprene. Mass balance measurements show that engineered methanogens direct up to 4% of total carbon flux to isoprene, demonstrating that methanogens produce higher isoprene yields than engineered yeast, bacteria, or cyanobacteria, and from inexpensive feedstocks. Expression of isoprene synthase resulted in increased biomass and changes in gene expression that indicate that isoprene synthesis depletes membrane precursors and redirects electron flux, enabling isoprene to be a major metabolic product. Our results demonstrate that methanogens are a promising engineering chassis for renewable isoprene synthesis.IMPORTANCE A significant barrier to implementing renewable chemical technologies is high production costs relative to those for petroleum-derived products. Existing technologies using engineered organisms have difficulty competing with petroleum-derived chemicals due to the cost of feedstocks (such as glucose), product extraction, and purification. The hemiterpene monomer isoprene is one such chemical that cannot currently be produced using cost-competitive renewable biotechnologies. To reduce the cost of renewable isoprene, we have engineered methanogens to synthesize it from inexpensive feedstocks such as methane, methanol, acetate, and carbon dioxide. The "isoprenogen" strains we developed have potential to be used for industrial production of inexpensive renewable isoprene.
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24
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Pfeifer K, Ergal İ, Koller M, Basen M, Schuster B, Rittmann SKMR. Archaea Biotechnology. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 47:107668. [PMID: 33271237 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Archaea are a domain of prokaryotic organisms with intriguing physiological characteristics and ecological importance. In Microbial Biotechnology, archaea are historically overshadowed by bacteria and eukaryotes in terms of public awareness, industrial application, and scientific studies, although their biochemical and physiological properties show a vast potential for a wide range of biotechnological applications. Today, the majority of microbial cell factories utilized for the production of value-added and high value compounds on an industrial scale are bacterial, fungal or algae based. Nevertheless, archaea are becoming ever more relevant for biotechnology as their cultivation and genetic systems improve. Some of the main advantages of archaeal cell factories are the ability to cultivate many of these often extremophilic organisms under non-sterile conditions, and to utilize inexpensive feedstocks often toxic to other microorganisms, thus drastically reducing cultivation costs. Currently, the only commercially available products of archaeal cell factories are bacterioruberin, squalene, bacteriorhodopsin and diether-/tetraether-lipids, all of which are produced utilizing halophiles. Other archaeal products, such as carotenoids and biohydrogen, as well as polyhydroxyalkanoates and methane are in early to advanced development stages, respectively. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current state of Archaea Biotechnology by describing the actual state of research and development as well as the industrial utilization of archaeal cell factories, their role and their potential in the future of sustainable bioprocessing, and to illustrate their physiological and biotechnological potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Pfeifer
- Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Universität Wien, Wien, Austria; Institute of Synthetic Bioarchitectures, Department of Nanobiotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Wien, Austria
| | - İpek Ergal
- Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Universität Wien, Wien, Austria
| | - Martin Koller
- Office of Research Management and Service, c/o Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Austria
| | - Mirko Basen
- Microbial Physiology Group, Division of Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schuster
- Institute of Synthetic Bioarchitectures, Department of Nanobiotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Wien, Austria
| | - Simon K-M R Rittmann
- Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Universität Wien, Wien, Austria.
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25
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Mączka W, Wińska K, Grabarczyk M. One Hundred Faces of Geraniol. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25143303. [PMID: 32708169 PMCID: PMC7397177 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25143303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Geraniol is a monoterpenic alcohol with a pleasant rose-like aroma, known as an important ingredient in many essential oils, and is used commercially as a fragrance compound in cosmetic and household products. However, geraniol has a number of biological activities, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown the activity of geraniol against prostate, bowel, liver, kidney and skin cancer. It can induce apoptosis and increase the expression of proapoptotic proteins. The synergy of this with other drugs may further increase the range of chemotherapeutic agents. The antibacterial activity of this compound was also observed on respiratory pathogens, skin and food-derived strains. This review discusses some of the most important uses of geraniol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanda Mączka
- Correspondence: (W.M.); (K.W.); (M.G.); Tel.: +48-71-320-5213 (W.M. & K.W.)
| | - Katarzyna Wińska
- Correspondence: (W.M.); (K.W.); (M.G.); Tel.: +48-71-320-5213 (W.M. & K.W.)
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26
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Integration of large heterologous DNA fragments into the genome of Thermococcus kodakarensis. Extremophiles 2020; 24:339-353. [PMID: 32112303 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-020-01159-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In this study, a transformation system enabling large-scale gene recombination was developed for the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis. Using the uracil auxotroph T. kodakarensis KU216 (∆pyrF) as a parent strain, we constructed multiple host strains harboring two 1-kbp DNA regions from the genomes of either the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus or Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. The two regions were selected so that the regions between them on the respective genomes would include pyrF genes, which can potentially be used for selection. Transformation using these host strains and genomic DNA from P. furiosus or M. jannaschii were carried out. Transformants with exogenous pyrF were obtained only using host strains with regions from P. furiosus, and only when the distances between the two regions were relatively short (2-5 kbp) on the P. furiosus genome. To insert longer DNA fragments, we examined the possibilities of using P. furiosus cells to provide intact genomic DNA. A cell pellet of P. furiosus was overlaid with that of T. kodakarensis so that cells were in direct contact. As a result, we were able to isolate T. kodakarensis strains harboring DNA fragments from P. furiosus with lengths of up to 75 kbp in a single transformation step.
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27
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Posttranslational Methylation of Arginine in Methyl Coenzyme M Reductase Has a Profound Impact on both Methanogenesis and Growth of Methanococcus maripaludis. J Bacteriol 2020; 202:JB.00654-19. [PMID: 31740491 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00654-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Catalyzing the key step for anaerobic production and/or oxidation of methane and likely other short-chain alkanes, methyl coenzyme M reductase (Mcr) and its homologs play a key role in the global carbon cycle. The McrA subunit possesses up to five conserved posttranslational modifications (PTMs) at its active site. It was previously suggested that methanogenesis marker protein 10 (Mmp10) could play an important role in methanogenesis. To systematically examine its physiological role, mmpX (locus tag MMP1554), the gene encoding Mmp10 in Methanococcus maripaludis, was deleted with a new genetic tool, resulting in the complete loss of the 5-C-(S)-methylarginine PTM of residue 275 in the McrA subunit. When the ΔmmpX mutant was complemented with the wild-type gene expressed by either a strong or a weak promoter, methylation was fully restored. Compared to the parental strain, maximal rates of methane formation by whole cells were reduced by 40 to 60% in the ΔmmpX mutant. The reduction in activity was fully reversed by the complement with the strong promoter. Site-directed mutagenesis of mmpX resulted in a differential loss of arginine methylation among the mutants in vivo, suggesting that activities of Mmp10 directly modulated methylation. R275 was present in a highly conserved PXRR275(A/S)R(G/A) signature sequence in McrAs. The only other protein in M. maripaludis containing a similar sequence was not methylated, suggesting that Mmp10 is specific for McrA. In conclusion, Mmp10 modulates the methyl-Arg PTM on McrA in a highly specific manner, which has a profound impact on Mcr activity.IMPORTANCE Mcr is the key enzyme in methanogenesis and a promising candidate for bioengineering the conversion of methane to liquid fuel. Our knowledge of Mcr is still limited. In terms of complexity, uniqueness, and environmental importance, Mcr is more comparable to photosynthetic reaction centers than conventional enzymes. PTMs have long been hypothesized to play key roles in modulating Mcr activity. Here, we directly link the mmpX gene to the arginine PTM of Mcr, demonstrate its association with methanogenesis activity, and offer insights into its substrate specificity and putative cofactor binding sites. This is also the first time that a PTM of McrA has been shown to have a substantial impact on both methanogenesis and growth in the absence of additional stressors.
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28
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Alpha-Terpineol production from an engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell factory. Microb Cell Fact 2019; 18:160. [PMID: 31547812 PMCID: PMC6757357 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-019-1211-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Alpha-Terpineol (α-Terpineol), a C10 monoterpenoid alcohol, is widely used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Construction Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell factories for producing monoterpenes offers a promising means to substitute chemical synthesis or phytoextraction. Results α-Terpineol was produced by expressing the truncated α-Terpineol synthase (tVvTS) from Vitis vinifera in S. cerevisiae. The α-Terpineol titer was increased to 0.83 mg/L with overexpression of the rate-limiting genes tHMG1, IDI1 and ERG20F96W-N127W. A GSGSGSGSGS linker was applied to fuse ERG20F96W-N127W with tVvTS, and expressing the fusion protein increased the α-Terpineol production by 2.87-fold to 2.39 mg/L when compared with the parental strain. In addition, we found that farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) accumulation by down-regulation of ERG9 expression and deletion of LPP1 and DPP1 did not improve α-Terpineol production. Therefore, ERG9 was overexpressed and the α-Terpineol titer was further increased to 3.32 mg/L. The best α-Terpineol producing strain LCB08 was then used for batch and fed-batch fermentation in a 5 L bioreactor, and the production of α-Terpineol was ultimately improved to 21.88 mg/L. Conclusions An efficient α-Terpineol production cell factory was constructed by engineering the S. cerevisiae mevalonate pathway, and the metabolic engineering strategies could also be applied to produce other valuable monoterpene compounds in yeast.
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Lyu Z, Whitman WB. Transplanting the pathway engineering toolbox to methanogens. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2019; 59:46-54. [PMID: 30875664 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Biological methanogenesis evolved early in Earth's history and was likely already a major process by 3.5 Ga. Modern methanogenesis is now a key process in virtually all anaerobic microbial communities, such as marine and lake sediments, wetland and rice soils, and human and cattle digestive tracts. Owing to their long evolution and extensive adaptations to various habitats, methanogens possess enormous metabolic and physiological diversity. Not only does this diversity offers unique opportunities for biotechnology applications, but also reveals their direct impact on the environment, agriculture, and human and animal health. These efforts are facilitated by an advanced genetic toolbox, emerging new molecular tools, and systems-level modelling for methanogens. Further developments and convergence of these technical advancements provide new opportunities for bioengineering methanogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Lyu
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - William B Whitman
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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Liman GLS, Hulko T, Febvre HP, Brachfeld AC, Santangelo TJ. A linear pathway for mevalonate production supports growth of Thermococcus kodakarensis. Extremophiles 2019; 23:229-238. [PMID: 30673855 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-019-01076-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The sole unifying feature of Archaea is the use of isoprenoid-based glycerol lipid ethers to compose cellular membranes. The branched hydrocarbon tails of archaeal lipids are synthesized via the polymerization of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), but many questions still surround the pathway(s) that result in production of IPP and DMAPP in archaeal species. Isotopic-labeling strategies argue for multiple biological routes for production of mevalonate, but biochemical and bioinformatic studies support only a linear pathway for mevalonate production. Here, we use a combination of genetic and biochemical assays to detail the production of mevalonate in the model archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis. We demonstrate that a single, linear pathway to mevalonate biosynthesis is essential and that alternative routes of mevalonate production, if present, are not biologically sufficient to support growth in the absence of the classical mevalonate pathway resulting in IPP production from acetyl-CoA. Archaeal species provide an ideal platform for production of high-value isoprenoids in large quantities, and the results obtained provide avenues to further increase the production of mevalonate to drive isoprenoid production in archaeal hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldy L S Liman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Tyler Hulko
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Hallie P Febvre
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Aaron C Brachfeld
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Thomas J Santangelo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
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Lin JL, Ekas H, Markham K, Alper HS. An enzyme-coupled assay enables rapid protein engineering for geraniol production in yeast. Biochem Eng J 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2018.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Assembly of Methyl Coenzyme M Reductase in the Methanogenic Archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis. J Bacteriol 2018; 200:JB.00746-17. [PMID: 29339414 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00746-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Methyl coenzyme M reductase (MCR) is a complex enzyme that catalyzes the final step in biological methanogenesis. To better understand its assembly, the recombinant MCR from the thermophile Methanothermococcus okinawensis (rMCRok) was expressed in the mesophile Methanococcus maripaludis The rMCRok was posttranslationally modified correctly and contained McrD and the unique nickel tetrapyrrole coenzyme F430 Subunits of the native M. maripaludis (MCRmar) were largely absent, suggesting that the recombinant enzyme was formed by an assembly of cotranscribed subunits. Strong support for this hypothesis was obtained by expressing a chimeric operon comprising the His-tagged mcrA from M. maripaludis and the mcrBDCG from M. okinawensis in M. maripaludis The His-tagged purified rMCR then contained the M. maripaludis McrA and the M. okinawensis McrBDG. The present study prompted us to form a working model for MCR assembly, which can be further tested by the heterologous expression system established here.IMPORTANCE Approximately 1.6% of the net primary production of plants, algae, and cyanobacteria are processed by biological methane production in anoxic environments. This accounts for about 74% of the total global methane production, up to 25% of which is consumed by anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM). Methyl coenzyme M reductase (MCR) is the key enzyme in both methanogenesis and AOM. MCR is assembled as a dimer of two heterotrimers, where posttranslational modifications and F430 cofactors are embedded in the active sites. However, this complex assembly process remains unknown. Here, we established a heterologous expression system for MCR to learn how MCR is assembled.
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Fuke T, Sato T, Jha S, Tansengco ML, Atomi H. Phytoene production utilizing the isoprenoid biosynthesis capacity of Thermococcus kodakarensis. Extremophiles 2018; 22:301-313. [PMID: 29340843 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-018-0998-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/23/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Phytoene (C40H64) is an isoprenoid and a precursor of various carotenoids which are of industrial value. Archaea can be considered to exhibit a relatively large capacity to produce isoprenoids, as they are components of their membrane lipids. Here, we aimed to produce isoprenoids such as phytoene in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis. T. kodakarensis harbors a prenyltransferase gene involved in the biosynthesis of farnesyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, which are precursors of squalene and phytoene, respectively. However, homologs of squalene synthase and phytoene synthase, which catalyze their condensation reactions, are not found on the genome. Therefore, a squalene/phytoene synthase homolog from an acidothermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, Saci_1734, was introduced into the T. kodakarensis chromosome under the control of a strong promoter. Production of the Saci_1734 protein was confirmed in this strain, and the generation of phytoene was detected (0.08-0.75 mg L-1 medium). We then carried out genetic engineering in order to increase the phytoene production yield. Disruption of an acetyl-CoA synthetase I gene involved in hydrolyzing acetyl-CoA, the precursor of phytoene, together with the introduction of a second copy of Saci_1734 led to a 3.4-fold enhancement in phytoene production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsubasa Fuke
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan
| | - Takaaki Sato
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan.,JST, CREST, 7 Gobancho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0076, Japan
| | - Savyasachee Jha
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan
| | - Myra L Tansengco
- Environment and Biotechnology Division, Industrial Technology Development Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines
| | - Haruyuki Atomi
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan. .,JST, CREST, 7 Gobancho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0076, Japan.
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Enzmann F, Mayer F, Rother M, Holtmann D. Methanogens: biochemical background and biotechnological applications. AMB Express 2018; 8:1. [PMID: 29302756 PMCID: PMC5754280 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-017-0531-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Since fossil sources for fuel and platform chemicals will become limited in the near future, it is important to develop new concepts for energy supply and production of basic reagents for chemical industry. One alternative to crude oil and fossil natural gas could be the biological conversion of CO2 or small organic molecules to methane via methanogenic archaea. This process has been known from biogas plants, but recently, new insights into the methanogenic metabolism, technical optimizations and new technology combinations were gained, which would allow moving beyond the mere conversion of biomass. In biogas plants, steps have been undertaken to increase yield and purity of the biogas, such as addition of hydrogen or metal granulate. Furthermore, the integration of electrodes led to the development of microbial electrosynthesis (MES). The idea behind this technique is to use CO2 and electrical power to generate methane via the microbial metabolism. This review summarizes the biochemical and metabolic background of methanogenesis as well as the latest technical applications of methanogens. As a result, it shall give a sufficient overview over the topic to both, biologists and engineers handling biological or bioelectrochemical methanogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Enzmann
- DECHEMA Research Institute, Industrial Biotechnology, Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Florian Mayer
- DECHEMA Research Institute, Industrial Biotechnology, Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Michael Rother
- Technische Universität Dresden, Institut für Mikrobiologie, Zellescher Weg 20b, 01217 Dresden, Germany
| | - Dirk Holtmann
- DECHEMA Research Institute, Industrial Biotechnology, Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Abdel Azim A, Rittmann SKMR, Fino D, Bochmann G. The physiological effect of heavy metals and volatile fatty acids on Methanococcus maripaludis S2. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2018; 11:301. [PMID: 30410576 PMCID: PMC6214177 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-018-1302-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methanogenic archaea are of importance to the global C-cycle and to biological methane (CH4) production through anaerobic digestion and pure culture. Here, the individual and combined effects of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), acetate, and propionate on the metabolism of the autotrophic, hydrogenotrophic methanogen Methanococcus maripaludis S2 were investigated. Cu, Zn, acetate, and propionate may interfere directly and indirectly with the acetyl-CoA synthesis and biological CH4 production. Thus, these compounds can compromise or improve the performance of M. maripaludis, an organism which can be applied as biocatalyst in the carbon dioxide (CO2)-based biological CH4 production (CO2-BMP) process or of methanogenic organisms applied in anaerobic digestion. RESULTS Here, we show that Cu concentration of 1.9 µmol L-1 reduced growth of M. maripaludis, whereas 4.4 and 6.3 µmol L-1 of Cu even further retarded biomass production. However, 1.0 mmol L-1 of Zn enhanced growth, but at Zn concentrations > 2.4 mmol L-1 no growth could be observed. When both, Cu and Zn, were supplemented to the medium, growth and CH4 production could even be observed at the highest tested concentration of Cu (6.3 µmol L-1). Hence, it seems that the addition of 1 mmol L-1 of Zn enhanced the ability of M. maripaludis to counteract the toxic effect of Cu. The physiological effect to rising concentrations of acetate (12.2, 60.9, 121.9 mmol L-1) and/or propionate (10.3, 52.0, 104.1 mmol L-1) was also investigated. When instead of acetate 10.3 mmol L-1 propionate was provided in the growth medium, M. maripaludis could grow without reduction of the specific growth rate (µ) or the specific CH4 productivity (qCH4). A combination of inorganic and/or organic compounds resulted in an increase of µ and qCH4 for Zn/Cu and Zn/acetate beyond the values that were observed if only the individual concentrations of Zn, Cu, acetate were used. CONCLUSIONS Our study sheds light on the physiological effect of VFAs and heavy metals on M. maripaludis. Differently from µ and qCH4, MER was not influenced by the presence of these compounds. This indicated that each of these compounds directly interacted with the C-fixation machinery of M. maripaludis. Until now, the uptake of VFAs other than acetate was not considered to enhance growth and CH4 production of methanogens. The finding of propionate uptake by M. maripaludis is important for the interpretation of VFA cycling in anaerobic microenvironments. Due to the importance of methanogens in natural and artificial anaerobic environments, our results help to enhance the understanding the physiological and biotechnological importance with respect to anaerobic digestion, anaerobic wastewater treatment, and CO2-BMP. Finally, we propose a possible mechanism for acetate uptake into M. maripaludis supported by in silico analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Abdel Azim
- Institute for Environmental Biotechnology, IFA Department Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Division, Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology, Universität Wien, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
- Center for Sustainable Future Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Turin, Italy
| | - Simon K.-M. R. Rittmann
- Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Division, Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology, Universität Wien, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Debora Fino
- Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Günther Bochmann
- Institute for Environmental Biotechnology, IFA Department Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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White RH. Identification and Biosynthesis of 1-Mercaptoethanesulfonic Acid (1-MES), an Analogue of Coenzyme M, Found Widely in the Methanogenic Archaea. Biochemistry 2017; 56:6137-6144. [PMID: 29064676 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Here I report on the identification of 1-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid (1-MES), an analogue of 2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid (coenzyme M, HSCoM). 1-MES and HSCoM were both present in the growth media of eight different methanogens at concentrations ranging from ∼1 to 100 μM. In an effort to determine a chemical origin of 1-MES, several plausible chemical routes were examined each assuming that HSCoM was the precursor. In all examined routes, no 1-MES was formed. However, 1-MES was formed when a solution of vinylsulfonic acid and sulfide were exposed to ultraviolet light. On the basis of these results, I conclude 1-MES is formed enzymatically. This was confirmed by growing a culture of Methanococcus maripaludis S2 in the presence of [1,1',2,2'-2H4]HSCoM and measuring the incorporation of deuterium into 1-MES. 1-MES incorporated three of the four deuteriums from the fed HSCoM. This result is consistent with the abstraction of a C-2 deuterium of the HSCoM, likely by a 5'-dAdoCH2• radical, followed by a radical rearrangement in which the sulfonic acid moves to position C-1, followed by abstraction of a H• likely from 5'-dAdoCH2D. At present, the reason for the production of 1-MES is not clear. This is the first report of the occurrence of 1-MES in Nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H White
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
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Gilmore SP, Henske JK, Sexton JA, Solomon KV, Seppälä S, Yoo JI, Huyett LM, Pressman A, Cogan JZ, Kivenson V, Peng X, Tan Y, Valentine DL, O'Malley MA. Genomic analysis of methanogenic archaea reveals a shift towards energy conservation. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:639. [PMID: 28826405 PMCID: PMC5563889 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4036-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The metabolism of archaeal methanogens drives methane release into the environment and is critical to understanding global carbon cycling. Methanogenesis operates at a very low reducing potential compared to other forms of respiration and is therefore critical to many anaerobic environments. Harnessing or altering methanogen metabolism has the potential to mitigate global warming and even be utilized for energy applications. RESULTS Here, we report draft genome sequences for the isolated methanogens Methanobacterium bryantii, Methanosarcina spelaei, Methanosphaera cuniculi, and Methanocorpusculum parvum. These anaerobic, methane-producing archaea represent a diverse set of isolates, capable of methylotrophic, acetoclastic, and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Assembly and analysis of the genomes allowed for simple and rapid reconstruction of metabolism in the four methanogens. Comparison of the distribution of Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) proteins to a sample of genomes from the RefSeq database revealed a trend towards energy conservation in genome composition of all methanogens sequenced. Further analysis of the predicted membrane proteins and transporters distinguished differing energy conservation methods utilized during methanogenesis, such as chemiosmotic coupling in Msar. spelaei and electron bifurcation linked to chemiosmotic coupling in Mbac. bryantii and Msph. cuniculi. CONCLUSIONS Methanogens occupy a unique ecological niche, acting as the terminal electron acceptors in anaerobic environments, and their genomes display a significant shift towards energy conservation. The genome-enabled reconstructed metabolisms reported here have significance to diverse anaerobic communities and have led to proposed substrate utilization not previously reported in isolation, such as formate and methanol metabolism in Mbac. bryantii and CO2 metabolism in Msph. cuniculi. The newly proposed substrates establish an important foundation with which to decipher how methanogens behave in native communities, as CO2 and formate are common electron carriers in microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P Gilmore
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - John K Henske
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Jessica A Sexton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Kevin V Solomon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,Present Address: Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Susanna Seppälä
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Justin I Yoo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Lauren M Huyett
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Abe Pressman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - James Z Cogan
- Biology Program, College of Creative Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Veronika Kivenson
- Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Xuefeng Peng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - YerPeng Tan
- California NanoScience Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - David L Valentine
- Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Michelle A O'Malley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.
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Lyu Z, Whitman WB. Evolution of the archaeal and mammalian information processing systems: towards an archaeal model for human disease. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:183-212. [PMID: 27261368 PMCID: PMC11107668 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-016-2286-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Current evolutionary models suggest that Eukaryotes originated from within Archaea instead of being a sister lineage. To test this model of ancient evolution, we review recent studies and compare the three major information processing subsystems of replication, transcription and translation in the Archaea and Eukaryotes. Our hypothesis is that if the Eukaryotes arose within the archaeal radiation, their information processing systems will appear to be one of kind and not wholly original. Within the Eukaryotes, the mammalian or human systems are emphasized because of their importance in understanding health. Biochemical as well as genetic studies provide strong evidence for the functional similarity of archaeal homologs to the mammalian information processing system and their dissimilarity to the bacterial systems. In many independent instances, a simple archaeal system is functionally equivalent to more elaborate eukaryotic homologs, suggesting that evolution of complexity is likely an central feature of the eukaryotic information processing system. Because fewer components are often involved, biochemical characterizations of the archaeal systems are often easier to interpret. Similarly, the archaeal cell provides a genetically and metabolically simpler background, enabling convenient studies on the complex information processing system. Therefore, Archaea could serve as a parsimonious and tractable host for studying human diseases that arise in the information processing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Lyu
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - William B Whitman
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
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Yishai O, Lindner SN, Gonzalez de la Cruz J, Tenenboim H, Bar-Even A. The formate bio-economy. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2016; 35:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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McAnulty MJ, Poosarla VG, Li J, Soo VWC, Zhu F, Wood TK. Metabolic engineering of Methanosarcina acetivorans for lactate production from methane. Biotechnol Bioeng 2016; 114:852-861. [PMID: 27800599 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Revised: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated anaerobic conversion of the greenhouse gas methane into acetate using an engineered archaeon that produces methyl-coenzyme M reductase (Mcr) from unculturable microorganisms from a microbial mat in the Black Sea to create the first culturable prokaryote that reverses methanogenesis and grows anaerobically on methane. In this work, we further engineered the same host with the goal of converting methane into butanol. Instead, we discovered a process for converting methane to a secreted valuable product, L-lactate, with sufficient optical purity for synthesizing the biodegradable plastic poly-lactic acid. We determined that the 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase (Hbd) from Clostridium acetobutylicum is responsible for lactate production. This work demonstrates the first metabolic engineering of a methanogen with a synthetic pathway; in effect, we produce a novel product (lactate) from a novel substrate (methane) by cloning the three genes for Mcr and one for Hbd. We further demonstrate the utility of anaerobic methane conversion with an increased lactate yield compared to aerobic methane conversion to lactate. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 852-861. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J McAnulty
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 168 020-4400
| | - Venkata Giridhar Poosarla
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 168 020-4400
| | - Jine Li
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 168 020-4400
| | - Valerie W C Soo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 168 020-4400
| | - Fayin Zhu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 168 020-4400
| | - Thomas K Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 168 020-4400.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-4400
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