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Chang J, Peng P, Farhan Ul-Haque M, Hira A, DiSpirito AA, Semrau JD. Inhibition of nitrous oxide reduction in forest soil microcosms by different forms of methanobactin. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2338-2350. [PMID: 37395163 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Copper plays a critical role in controlling greenhouse gas emissions as it is a key component of the particulate methane monooxygenase and nitrous oxide reductase. Some methanotrophs excrete methanobactin (MB) that has an extremely high copper affinity. As a result, MB may limit the ability of other microbes to gather copper, thereby decreasing their activity as well as impacting microbial community composition. Here, we show using forest soil microcosms that multiple forms of MB; MB from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b (MB-OB3b) and MB from Methylocystis sp. strain SB2 (MB-SB2) increased nitrous oxide (N2 O) production as well caused significant shifts in microbial community composition. Such effects, however, were mediated by the amount of copper in the soils, with low-copper soil microcosms showing the strongest response to MB. Furthermore, MB-SB2 had a stronger effect, likely due to its higher affinity for copper. The presence of either form of MB also inhibited nitrite reduction and generally increased the presence of genes encoding for the iron-containing nitrite reductase (nirS) over the copper-dependent nitrite reductase (nirK). These data indicate the methanotrophic-mediated production of MB can significantly impact multiple steps of denitrification, as well as have broad effects on microbial community composition of forest soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Chang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Peng Peng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Abid Hira
- School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Alan A DiSpirito
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Jeremy D Semrau
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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2
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He L, Groom JD, Wilson EH, Fernandez J, Konopka MC, Beck DAC, Lidstrom ME. A methanotrophic bacterium to enable methane removal for climate mitigation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2310046120. [PMID: 37603746 PMCID: PMC10466089 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310046120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid increase of the potent greenhouse gas methane in the atmosphere creates great urgency to develop and deploy technologies for methane mitigation. One approach to removing methane is to use bacteria for which methane is their carbon and energy source (methanotrophs). Such bacteria naturally convert methane to CO2 and biomass, a value-added product and a cobenefit of methane removal. Typically, methanotrophs grow best at around 5,000 to 10,000 ppm methane, but methane in the atmosphere is 1.9 ppm. Air above emission sites such as landfills, anaerobic digestor effluents, rice paddy effluents, and oil and gas wells contains elevated methane in the 500 ppm range. If such sites are targeted for methane removal, technology harnessing aerobic methanotroph metabolism has the potential to become economically and environmentally viable. The first step in developing such methane removal technology is to identify methanotrophs with enhanced ability to grow and consume methane at 500 ppm and lower. We report here that some existing methanotrophic strains grow well at 500 ppm methane, and one of them, Methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C, consumes such low methane at enhanced rates compared to previously published values. Analyses of bioreactor-based performance and RNAseq-based transcriptomics suggest that this ability to utilize low methane is based at least in part on extremely low non-growth-associated maintenance energy and on high methane specific affinity. This bacterium is a candidate to develop technology for methane removal at emission sites. If appropriately scaled, such technology has the potential to slow global warming by 2050.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lian He
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Joseph D. Groom
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Erin H. Wilson
- School of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA98195
| | | | | | - David A. C. Beck
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA98195
- eScience Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Mary E. Lidstrom
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA98195
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA98195
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3
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Stewart A, Dershwitz P, Stewart C, Sawaya MR, Yeates TO, Semrau JD, Zischka H, DiSpirito AA, Bobik TA. Crystal structure of MbnF: an NADPH-dependent flavin monooxygenase from Methylocystis strain SB2. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2023; 79:111-118. [PMID: 37158309 PMCID: PMC10167746 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x23003035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Methanobactins (MBs) are ribosomally produced and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) that are used by methanotrophs for copper acquisition. The signature post-translational modification of MBs is the formation of two heterocyclic groups, either an oxazolone, pyrazinedione or imidazolone group, with an associated thioamide from an X-Cys dipeptide. The precursor peptide (MbnA) for MB formation is found in a gene cluster of MB-associated genes. The exact biosynthetic pathway of MB formation is not yet fully understood, and there are still uncharacterized proteins in some MB gene clusters, particularly those that produce pyrazinedione or imidazolone rings. One such protein is MbnF, which is proposed to be a flavin monooxygenase (FMO) based on homology. To help to elucidate its possible function, MbnF from Methylocystis sp. strain SB2 was recombinantly produced in Escherichia coli and its X-ray crystal structure was resolved to 2.6 Å resolution. Based on its structural features, MbnF appears to be a type A FMO, most of which catalyze hydroxylation reactions. Preliminary functional characterization shows that MbnF preferentially oxidizes NADPH over NADH, supporting NAD(P)H-mediated flavin reduction, which is the initial step in the reaction cycle of several type A FMO enzymes. It is also shown that MbnF binds the precursor peptide for MB, with subsequent loss of the leader peptide sequence as well as the last three C-terminal amino acids, suggesting that MbnF might be needed for this process to occur. Finally, molecular-dynamics simulations revealed a channel in MbnF that is capable of accommodating the core MbnA fragment minus the three C-terminal amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Stewart
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3260, USA
| | - Philip Dershwitz
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3260, USA
| | - Charles Stewart
- Macromolecular X-ray Crystallography Facility, Office of Biotechnology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3260, USA
| | - Michael R Sawaya
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1570, USA
| | - Todd O Yeates
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1570, USA
| | - Jeremy D Semrau
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2125, USA
| | - Hans Zischka
- Institute of Molecular Toxicology and Pharmacology, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Alan A DiSpirito
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3260, USA
| | - Thomas A Bobik
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3260, USA
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Xing CY, Li H, Li Q, Lu LH, Li Z. Shifts in composition and function of bacterial communities reveal the effect of small barriers on nitrous oxide and methane accumulation in fragmented rivers. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1110025. [PMID: 36896435 PMCID: PMC9990636 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1110025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Rivers are often blocked by barriers to form different habitats, but it is not clear whether this change will affect the accumulation of N2O and CH4 in rivers. Here, low barriers (less than 2 m, LB) increased N2O concentration by 1.13 times and CH4 decreased by 0.118 times, while high barriers (higher than 2 m, less than 5 m high, HB) increased N2O concentration by 1.19 times and CH4 by 2.76 times. Co-occurrence network analysis indicated LB and HB can promote the enrichment of Cyanobium and Chloroflexi, further limiting complete denitrification and increasing N2O accumulation. The LB promotes methanotrophs (Methylocystis, Methylophilus, and Methylotenera) to compete with denitrifiers (Pseudomonas) in water, and reduce CH4 accumulation. While the HB can promote the methanotrophs to compete with nitrifiers (Nitrosospira) in sediment, thus reducing the consumption of CH4. LB and HB reduce river velocity, increase water depth, and reduce dissolved oxygen (DO), leading to enrichment of nirS-type denitrifiers and the increase of N2O concentration in water. Moreover, the HB reduces DO concentration and pmoA gene abundance in water, which can increase the accumulation of CH4. In light of the changes in the microbial community and variation in N2O and CH4 accumulation, the impact of fragmented rivers on global greenhouse gas emissions merits further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong-Yang Xing
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institutes of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, China
| | - Hang Li
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institutes of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, China
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institutes of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, China
| | - Lun-Hui Lu
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institutes of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhe Li
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institutes of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, China
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Huang D, Gao L, Cheng M, Yan M, Zhang G, Chen S, Du L, Wang G, Li R, Tao J, Zhou W, Yin L. Carbon and N conservation during composting: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 840:156355. [PMID: 35654189 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Composting, as a conventional solid waste treatment method, plays an essential role in carbon and nitrogen conservation, thereby reducing the loss of nutrients and energy. However, some carbon- and nitrogen-containing gases are inevitably released during the process of composting due to the different operating conditions, resulting in carbon and nitrogen losses. To overcome this obstacle, many researchers have been trying to optimize the adjustment parameters and add some amendments (i.e., pHysical amendments, chemical amendments and microbial amendments) to reduce the losses and enhance carbon and nitrogen conservation. However, investigation regarding mechanisms for the conservation of carbon and nitrogen are limited. Therefore, this review summarizes the studies on physical amendments, chemical amendments and microbial amendments and proposes underlying mechanisms for the enhancement of carbon and nitrogen conservation: adsorption or conversion, and also evaluates their contribution to the mitigation of the greenhouse effect, providing a theoretical basis for subsequent composting-related researchers to better improve carbon and nitrogen conservation measures. This paper also suggests that: assessing the contribution of composting as a process to global greenhouse gas mitigation requires a complete life cycle evaluation of composting. The current lack of compost clinker impact on carbon and nitrogen sequestration capacity of the application site needs to be explored by more research workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danlian Huang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China.
| | - Lan Gao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Min Cheng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Ming Yan
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Gaoxia Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Sha Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Li Du
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Guangfu Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Ruijin Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Jiaxi Tao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Wei Zhou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Lingshi Yin
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
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6
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An Overview on Methanotrophs and the Role of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b for Biotechnological Applications. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12257-022-0046-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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7
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Variable Inhibition of Nitrous Oxide Reduction in Denitrifying Bacteria by Different Forms of Methanobactin. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0234621. [PMID: 35285718 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02346-21] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aerobic methanotrophic activity is highly dependent on copper availability, and methanotrophs have developed multiple strategies to collect copper. Specifically, when copper is limiting (ambient concentrations less than 1 μM), some methanotrophs produce and secret a small modified peptide (less than 1,300 Da) termed methanobactin (MB) that binds copper with high affinity. As MB is secreted into the environment, other microbes that require copper for their metabolism may be inhibited as MB may make copper unavailable; e.g., inhibition of denitrifiers as complete conversion nitrate to dinitrogen involves multiple enzymes, some of which are copper-dependent. Of key concern is inhibition of the copper-dependent nitrous oxide reductase (NosZ), the only known enzyme capable of converting nitrous oxide (N2O) to dinitrogen. Herein, we show that different forms of MB differentially affect copper uptake and N2O reduction by Pseudomonas stutzeri strain DCP-Ps1 (that expresses clade I NosZ) and Dechloromonas aromatica strain RCB (that expresses clade II NosZ). Specifically, in the presence of MB from Methylocystis sp. strain SB2 (SB2-MB), copper uptake and nosZ expression were more significantly reduced than in the presence of MB from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b (OB3b-MB). Further, N2O accumulation increased more significantly for both P. stutzeri strain DCP-Ps1 and D. aromatica strain RCB in the presence of SB2-MB versus OB3b-MB. These data illustrate that copper competition between methanotrophs and denitrifying bacteria can be significant and that the extent of such competition is dependent on the form of MB that methanotrophs produce. IMPORTANCE Herein, it was demonstrated that the different forms of methanobactin differentially enhance N2O emissions from Pseudomonas stutzeri strain DCP-Ps1 (harboring clade I nitrous oxide reductase) and Dechloromonas aromatica strain RCB (harboring clade II nitrous oxide reductase). This work contributes to our understanding of how aerobic methanotrophs compete with denitrifiers for the copper uptake and also suggests how MBs prevent copper collection by denitrifiers, thus downregulating expression of nitrous oxide reductase. This study provides critical information for enhanced understanding of microbe-microbe interactions that are important for the development of better predictive models of net greenhouse gas emissions (i.e., methane and nitrous oxide) that are significantly controlled by microbial activity.
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Choi M, Yun T, Song MJ, Kim J, Lee BH, Löffler FE, Yoon S. Cometabolic Vinyl Chloride Degradation at Acidic pH Catalyzed by Acidophilic Methanotrophs Isolated from Alpine Peat Bogs. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:5959-5969. [PMID: 33843227 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Remediation of toxic chlorinated ethenes via microbial reductive dechlorination can lead to ethene formation; however, the process stalls in acidic groundwater, leading to the accumulation of carcinogenic vinyl chloride (VC). This study explored the feasibility of cometabolic VC degradation by moderately acidophilic methanotrophs. Two novel isolates, Methylomonas sp. strain JS1 and Methylocystis sp. strain MJC1, were obtained from distinct alpine peat bogs located in South Korea. Both isolates cometabolized VC with CH4 as the primary substrate under oxic conditions at pH at or below 5.5. VC cometabolism in axenic cultures occurred in the presence (10 μM) or absence (<0.01 μM) of copper, suggesting that VC removal had little dependence on copper availability, which regulates expression and activity of soluble and particulate methane monooxygenases in methanotrophs. The model neutrophilic methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium strain OB3b also grew and cometabolized VC at pH 5.0 regardless of copper availability. Bioaugmentation of acidic peat soil slurries with methanotroph isolates demonstrated enhanced VC degradation and VC consumption below the maximum concentration level of 2 μg L-1. Community profiling of the microcosms suggested species-specific differences, indicating that robust bioaugmentation with methanotroph cultures requires further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munjeong Choi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Taeho Yun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Min Joon Song
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Jisun Kim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Byoung-Hee Lee
- Microorganism Resources Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, NIBR, Incheon 22689, South Korea
| | - Frank E Löffler
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Department of Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Sukhwan Yoon
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
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Enhancement of nitrous oxide emissions in soil microbial consortia via copper competition between proteobacterial methanotrophs and denitrifiers. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 87:e0230120. [PMID: 33355098 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02301-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Unique means of copper scavenging have been identified in proteobacterial methanotrophs, particularly the use of methanobactin, a novel ribosomally synthesized post-translationally modified polypeptide that binds copper with very high affinity. The possibility that copper sequestration strategies of methanotrophs may interfere with copper uptake of denitrifiers in situ and thereby enhance N2O emissions was examined using a suite of laboratory experiments performed with rice paddy microbial consortia. Addition of purified methanobactin from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b to denitrifying rice paddy soil microbial consortia resulted in substantially increased N2O production, with more pronounced responses observed for soils with lower copper content. The N2O emission-enhancing effect of the soil's native mbnA-expressing Methylocystaceae methanotrophs on the native denitrifiers was then experimentally verified with a Methylocystaceae-dominant chemostat culture prepared from a rice paddy microbial consortium as the inoculum. Lastly, with microcosms amended with varying cell numbers of methanobactin-producing Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b before CH4 enrichment, microbiomes with different ratios of methanobactin-producing Methylocystaceae to gammaproteobacterial methanotrophs incapable of methanobactin production were simulated. Significant enhancement of N2O production from denitrification was evident in both Methylocystaceae-dominant and Methylococcaceae-dominant enrichments, albeit to a greater extent in the former, signifying the comparative potency of methanobactin-mediated copper sequestration while implying the presence of alternative copper abstraction mechanisms for Methylococcaceae These observations support that copper-mediated methanotrophic enhancement of N2O production from denitrification is plausible where methanotrophs and denitrifiers cohabit.IMPORTANCE Proteobacterial methanotrophs, groups of microorganisms that utilize methane as source of energy and carbon, have been known to utilize unique mechanisms to scavenge copper, namely utilization of methanobactin, a polypeptide that binds copper with high affinity and specificity. Previously the possibility that copper sequestration by methanotrophs may lead to alteration of cuproenzyme-mediated reactions in denitrifiers and consequently increase emission of potent greenhouse gas N2O has been suggested in axenic and co-culture experiments. Here, a suite of experiments with rice paddy soil slurry cultures with complex microbial compositions were performed to corroborate that such copper-mediated interplay may actually take place in environments co-habited by diverse methanotrophs and denitrifiers. As spatial and temporal heterogeneity allow for spatial coexistence of methanotrophy (aerobic) and denitrification (anaerobic) in soils, the results from this study suggest that this previously unidentified mechanism of N2O production may account for significant proportion of N2O efflux from agricultural soils.
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Giannopoulos G, Hartop KR, Brown BL, Song B, Elsgaard L, Franklin RB. Trace Metal Availability Affects Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Microbial Functional Group Abundance in Freshwater Wetland Sediments. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:560861. [PMID: 33117308 PMCID: PMC7561414 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.560861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the effects of trace metal additions on microbial nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) cycling using freshwater wetland sediment microcosms amended with micromolar concentrations of copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), iron (Fe), and all combinations thereof. In addition to monitoring inorganic N transformations (NO3 -, NO2 -, N2O, NH4 +) and carbon mineralization (CO2, CH4), we tracked changes in functional gene abundance associated with denitrification (nirS, nirK, nosZ), dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA; nrfA), and methanogenesis (mcrA). With regards to N cycling, greater availability of Cu led to more complete denitrification (i.e., less N2O accumulation) and a higher abundance of the nirK and nosZ genes, which encode for Cu-dependent reductases. In contrast, we found sparse biochemical evidence of DNRA activity and no consistent effect of the trace metal additions on nrfA gene abundance. With regards to C mineralization, CO2 production was unaffected, but the amendments stimulated net CH4 production and Mo additions led to increased mcrA gene abundance. These findings demonstrate that trace metal effects on sediment microbial physiology can impact community-level function. We observed direct and indirect effects on both N and C biogeochemistry that resulted in increased production of greenhouse gasses, which may have been mediated through the documented changes in microbial community composition and shifts in functional group abundance. Overall, this work supports a more nuanced consideration of metal effects on environmental microbial communities that recognizes the key role that metal limitation plays in microbial physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Giannopoulos
- Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Katherine R Hartop
- Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Bonnie L Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United States
| | - Bongkeun Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, United States
| | - Lars Elsgaard
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
| | - Rima B Franklin
- Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
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11
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Semrau JD, DiSpirito AA, Obulisamy PK, Kang-Yun CS. Methanobactin from methanotrophs: genetics, structure, function and potential applications. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2020; 367:5804726. [PMID: 32166327 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnaa045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria of the Alphaproteobacteria have been found to express a novel ribosomally synthesized post-translationally modified polypeptide (RiPP) termed methanobactin (MB). The primary function of MB in these microbes appears to be for copper uptake, but MB has been shown to have multiple capabilities, including oxidase, superoxide dismutase and hydrogen peroxide reductase activities, the ability to detoxify mercury species, as well as acting as an antimicrobial agent. Herein, we describe the diversity of known MBs as well as the genetics underlying MB biosynthesis. We further propose based on bioinformatics analyses that some methanotrophs may produce novel forms of MB that have yet to be characterized. We also discuss recent findings documenting that MBs play an important role in controlling copper availability to the broader microbial community, and as a result can strongly affect the activity of microbes that require copper for important enzymatic transformations, e.g. conversion of nitrous oxide to dinitrogen. Finally, we describe procedures for the detection/purification of MB, as well as potential medical and industrial applications of this intriguing RiPP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy D Semrau
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA 48109-2125
| | - Alan A DiSpirito
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA 50011
| | | | - Christina S Kang-Yun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA 48109-2125
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Involvement of NO 3 - in Ecophysiological Regulation of Dissimilatory Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction to Ammonium (DNRA) Is Implied by Physiological Characterization of Soil DNRA Bacteria Isolated via a Colorimetric Screening Method. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.01054-20. [PMID: 32631862 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01054-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dissimilatory nitrate/nitrite reduction to ammonium (DNRA) has recently regained attention as a nitrogen retention pathway that may potentially be harnessed to alleviate nitrogen loss resulting from denitrification. Until recently, the ecophysiology of DNRA bacteria inhabiting agricultural soils has remained largely unexplored, due to the difficulty in targeted enrichment and isolation of DNRA microorganisms. In this study, >100 DNRA bacteria were isolated from NO3 --reducing anoxic enrichment cultures established with rice paddy soils using a newly developed colorimetric screening method. Six of these isolates, each assigned to a different genus, were characterized to improve the understanding of DNRA physiology. All the isolates carried nrfA and/or nirB, and the Bacillus sp. strain possessed a clade II nosZ gene conferring the capacity for N2O reduction. A common prominent physiological feature observed in the isolates was NO2 - accumulation before NH4 + production, which was further examined with Citrobacter sp. strain DNRA3 (possessing nrfA and nirB) and Enterobacter sp. strain DNRA5 (possessing only nirB). Both isolates showed inhibition of NO2 --to-NH4 + reduction at submillimolar NO3 - concentrations and downregulation of nrfA or nirB transcription when NO3 - was being reduced to NO2 - In batch and chemostat experiments, both isolates produced NH4 + from NO3 - reduction when incubated with excess organic electron donors, while incubation with excess NO3 - resulted in NO2 - buildup but no substantial NH4 + production, presumably due to inhibitory NO3 - concentrations. This previously overlooked link between NO3 - repression of NO2 --to-NH4 + reduction and the C-to-N ratio regulation of DNRA activity may be a key mechanism underpinning denitrification-versus-DNRA competition in soil.IMPORTANCE Dissimilatory nitrate/nitrite reduction to ammonium (DNRA) is an anaerobic microbial pathway that competes with denitrification for common substrates NO3 - and NO2 - Unlike denitrification, which leads to nitrogen loss and N2O emission, DNRA reduces NO3 - and NO2 - to NH4 +, a reactive nitrogen compound with a higher tendency to be retained in the soil matrix. Therefore, stimulation of DNRA has often been proposed as a strategy to improve fertilizer efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Such attempts have been hampered by lack of insights into soil DNRA bacterial ecophysiology. Here, we have developed a new screening method for isolating DNRA-catalyzing organisms from agricultural soils without apparent DNRA activity. Physiological characteristics of six DNRA isolates were closely examined, disclosing a previously overlooked link between NO3 - repression of NO2 --to-NH4 + reduction and the C-to-N ratio regulation of DNRA activity, which may be a key to understanding why DNRA activity is rarely observed at substantial levels in nitrogen-rich agricultural soils.
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Stein LY. The Long-Term Relationship between Microbial Metabolism and Greenhouse Gases. Trends Microbiol 2020; 28:500-511. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Synergistic Effects of a Chalkophore, Methanobactin, on Microbial Methylation of Mercury. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.00122-20. [PMID: 32220843 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00122-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial production of the neurotoxin methylmercury (MeHg) is a significant health and environmental concern, as it can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food web. A chalkophore or a copper-binding compound, termed methanobactin (MB), has been shown to form strong complexes with mercury [as Hg(II)] and also enables some methanotrophs to degrade MeHg. It is unknown, however, if Hg(II) binding with MB can also impede Hg(II) methylation by other microbes. Contrary to expectations, MB produced by the methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b (OB3b-MB) enhanced the rate and efficiency of Hg(II) methylation more than that observed with thiol compounds (such as cysteine) by the mercury-methylating bacteria Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ND132 and Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA. Compared to no-MB controls, OB3b-MB decreased the rates of Hg(II) sorption and internalization, but increased methylation by 5- to 7-fold, suggesting that Hg(II) complexation with OB3b-MB facilitated exchange and internal transfer of Hg(II) to the HgcAB proteins required for methylation. Conversely, addition of excess amounts of OB3b-MB or a different form of MB from Methylocystis strain SB2 (SB2-MB) inhibited Hg(II) methylation, likely due to greater binding of Hg(II). Collectively, our results underscore the complex roles of microbial exogenous metal-scavenging compounds in controlling net production and bioaccumulation of MeHg in the environment.IMPORTANCE Some anaerobic microorganisms convert inorganic mercury (Hg) into the neurotoxin methylmercury, which can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food web. While the genetic basis of microbial mercury methylation is known, factors that control net methylmercury production in the environment are still poorly understood. Here, it is shown that mercury methylation can be substantially enhanced by one form of an exogenous copper-binding compound (methanobactin) produced by some methanotrophs, but not by another. This novel finding illustrates that complex interactions exist between microbes and that these interactions can potentially affect the net production of methylmercury in situ.
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Naizabekov S, Lee EY. Genome-Scale Metabolic Model Reconstruction and in Silico Investigations of Methane Metabolism in Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8030437. [PMID: 32244934 PMCID: PMC7144005 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8030437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b is an obligate aerobic methane-utilizing alpha-proteobacterium. Since its isolation, M. trichosporium OB3b has been established as a model organism to study methane metabolism in type II methanotrophs. M. trichosporium OB3b utilizes soluble and particulate methane monooxygenase (sMMO and pMMO respectively) for methane oxidation. While the source of electrons is known for sMMO, there is less consensus regarding electron donor to pMMO. To investigate this and other questions regarding methane metabolism, the genome-scale metabolic model for M. trichosporium OB3b (model ID: iMsOB3b) was reconstructed. The model accurately predicted oxygen: methane molar uptake ratios and specific growth rates on nitrate-supplemented medium with methane as carbon and energy source. The redox-arm mechanism which links methane oxidation with complex I of electron transport chain has been found to be the most optimal mode of electron transfer. The model was also qualitatively validated on ammonium-supplemented medium indicating its potential to accurately predict methane metabolism in different environmental conditions. Finally, in silico investigations regarding flux distribution in central carbon metabolism of M. trichosporium OB3b were performed. Overall, iMsOB3b can be used as an organism-specific knowledgebase and a platform for hypothesis-driven theoretical investigations of methane metabolism.
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Semrau JD, DiSpirito AA. Methanobactin: A Novel Copper-Binding Compound Produced by Methanotrophs. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-23261-0_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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17
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Han H, Song B, Song MJ, Yoon S. Enhanced Nitrous Oxide Production in Denitrifying Dechloromonas aromatica Strain RCB Under Salt or Alkaline Stress Conditions. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1203. [PMID: 31275250 PMCID: PMC6593283 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Salinity and pH have direct and indirect impacts on the growth and metabolic activities of microorganisms. In this study, the effects of salt and alkaline stresses on the kinetic balance between nitrous oxide (N2O) production and consumption in the denitrification pathway of Dechloromonas aromatica strain RCB were examined. N2O accumulated transiently only in insignificant amounts at low salinity (≤0.5% NaCl) and circumneutral pH (7.0 and 7.5). As compared to these control conditions, incubation at 0.7% salinity resulted in substantially longer lag phase and slower growth rate, along with the increase in the amounts of transiently accumulated N2O (15.8 ± 2.8 μmoles N2O-N/vessel). Incubation at pH 8.0 severely inhibited growth and resulted in permanent accumulation of 29.9 ± 1.3 μmoles N2O-N/vessel from reduction of 151 ± 20 μmoles NO3−/vessel. Monitoring of temporal changes in nirS1, nirS2, and nosZ transcription suggested that the nosZ/(nirS1+nirS2) ratios were indicative of whether N2O was produced or consumed at the time points where measurements were taken. The salt and alkaline stresses altered the N2O consumption kinetics of the resting D. aromatica cells with expressed nitrous oxide reductases. The N2O consumption rates of the cells subjected to the salt and alkaline stress conditions were significantly reduced from 0.84 ± 0.007 μmoles min−1 mg protein−1 of the control to 0.27 ± 0.02 μmoles min−1 mg protein−1 and 0.31 ± 0.03 μmoles min−1 mg protein−1, respectively, when the initial dissolved N2O concentration was 0.1 mM. As the rates of N2O production from NO2− reduction was not significantly affected by the stresses (0.45–0.55 μmoles min−1 mg protein−1), the N2O consumption rate was lower than the N2O production rate at the stress conditions, but not at the control condition. These results clearly indicate that the altered kinetics of expressed nitrous oxide reductase and the resultant disruption of kinetic balance between N2O production and consumption was another cause of enhanced N2O emission observed under the salt and alkaline stress conditions. These findings suggest that canonical denitrifiers may become a significant N2O source when faced with abrupt environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejoo Han
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Bongkeun Song
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea.,Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, United States
| | - Min Joon Song
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Sukhwan Yoon
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
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Yoon S, Song B, Phillips RL, Chang J, Song MJ. Ecological and physiological implications of nitrogen oxide reduction pathways on greenhouse gas emissions in agroecosystems. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2019; 95:5488431. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiz066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Microbial reductive pathways of nitrogen (N) oxides are highly relevant to net emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) from agroecosystems. Several biotic and abiotic N-oxide reductive pathways influence the N budget and net GHG production in soil. This review summarizes the recent findings of N-oxide reduction pathways and their implications to GHG emissions in agroecosystems and proposes several mitigation strategies. Denitrification is the primary N-oxide reductive pathway that results in direct N2O emissions and fixed N losses, which add to the net carbon footprint. We highlight how dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), an alternative N-oxide reduction pathway, may be used to reduce N2O production and N losses via denitrification. Implications of nosZ abundance and diversity and expressed N2O reductase activity to soil N2O emissions are reviewed with focus on the role of the N2O-reducers as an important N2O sink. Non-prokaryotic N2O sources, e.g. fungal denitrification, codenitrification and chemodenitrification, are also summarized to emphasize their potential significance as modulators of soil N2O emissions. Through the extensive review of these recent scientific advancements, this study posits opportunities for GHG mitigation through manipulation of microbial N-oxide reductive pathways in soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukhwan Yoon
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST, 291 Daehakro, Yuseonggu, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Bongkeun Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, College of William and Mary, 1375 Greate Rd, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA
| | - Rebecca L Phillips
- Ecological Insights Corporation, 130 69th Street SE, Hazelton, ND 58544, USA
| | - Jin Chang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST, 291 Daehakro, Yuseonggu, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Min Joon Song
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST, 291 Daehakro, Yuseonggu, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
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Aerobic methane oxidation under copper scarcity in a stratified lake. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4817. [PMID: 30886176 PMCID: PMC6423226 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40642-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) substantially reduce methane fluxes from freshwater sediments to the atmosphere. Their metalloenzyme methane monooxygenase (MMO) catalyses the first oxidation step converting methane to methanol. Its most prevalent form is the copper-dependent particulate pMMO, however, some MOB are also able to express the iron-containing, soluble sMMO under conditions of copper scarcity. So far, the link between copper availability in different forms and biological methane consumption in freshwater systems is poorly understood. Here, we present high-resolution profiles of MOB abundance and pMMO and sMMO functional genes in relation to copper, methane and oxygen profiles across the oxic-anoxic boundary of a stratified lake. We show that even at low nanomolar copper concentrations, MOB species containing the gene for pMMO expression are present at high abundance. The findings highlight the importance of copper as a micronutrient for MOB species and the potential usage of copper acquisition strategies, even under conditions of abundant iron, and shed light on the spatial distribution of these microorganisms.
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Bodelier PLE, Pérez G, Veraart AJ, Krause SMB. Methanotroph Ecology, Environmental Distribution and Functioning. METHANOTROPHS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-23261-0_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Abstract
Aerobic methanotrophs have long been known to play a critical role in the global carbon cycle, being capable of converting methane to biomass and carbon dioxide. Interestingly, these microbes exhibit great sensitivity to copper and rare-earth elements, with the expression of key genes involved in the central pathway of methane oxidation controlled by the availability of these metals. That is, these microbes have a "copper switch" that controls the expression of alternative methane monooxygenases and a "rare-earth element switch" that controls the expression of alternative methanol dehydrogenases. Further, it has been recently shown that some methanotrophs can detoxify inorganic mercury and demethylate methylmercury; this finding is remarkable, as the canonical organomercurial lyase does not exist in these methanotrophs, indicating that a novel mechanism is involved in methylmercury demethylation. Here, we review recent findings on methanotrophic interactions with metals, with a particular focus on these metal switches and the mechanisms used by methanotrophs to bind and sequester metals.
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