1
|
Hu R, He Z, Wang C. Rethinking microbially driven methane formation in mangrove wetlands. Trends Microbiol 2024:S0966-842X(24)00146-X. [PMID: 38897853 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2024.06.002] [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: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Mangrove wetlands contribute to climate change mitigation through efficient carbon burial, yet microbial methanogenesis offsets these climate benefits. We review the diversity of methanogenic microorganisms in mangrove sediments, present the unrecognized role of bacteria on methanogenesis, and highlight the significance of distinguishing various methanogenic pathways to assess mangrove climate benefits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruiwen Hu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Zhili He
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ma Y, Qu Y, Yao X, Xia C, Lv M, Lin X, Zhang L, Zhang M, Hu B. Unveiling the unique role of iron in the metabolism of methanogens: A review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118495. [PMID: 38367837 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Methanogens are the main participants in the carbon cycle, catalyzing five methanogenic pathways. Methanogens utilize different iron-containing functional enzymes in different methanogenic processes. Iron is a vital element in methanogens, which can serve as a carrier or reactant in electron transfer. Therefore, iron plays an important role in the growth and metabolism of methanogens. In this paper, we cast light on the types and functions of iron-containing functional enzymes involved in different methanogenic pathways, and the roles iron play in energy/substance metabolism of methanogenesis. Furthermore, this review provides certain guiding significance for lowering CH4 emissions, boosting the carbon sink capacity of ecosystems and promoting green and low-carbon development in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Ma
- Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Qu
- Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiangwu Yao
- Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chujun Xia
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mengjie Lv
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiao Lin
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- Beijing Enterprises Water Group Limited, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Baolan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Margreiter C, Probst M, Prem EM, Hofmann A, Wagner AO. Gasification chars and activated carbon: Systematic physico-chemical characterization and effect on biogas production. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31264. [PMID: 38803868 PMCID: PMC11128995 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Gasification residues/chars (GR) and activated carbon (AC) are added to wastewater treatment processes mainly as a fourth purification stage, e.g., to adsorb heavy metals or pharmaceutical residues. However, the effects of GR or AC, which are transferred to the anaerobic digestion (AD) via the sludge, are not yet fully understood. Although, the positive effect of char addition on AD has been demonstrated in several investigations, systematic studies with chemically well described chars are still missing. Therefore, in this study, different chars were characterized in detail, subjected to AD in different concentrations, and their effect on methane production investigated. GR of a gasification plant with a floating fixed bed technology, carbon made by chemical impregnation with ZnCl2 from waste-wood, carbon produced by thermochemical activation with CO2 from GR and commercial powdered AC were used for the experiments. Among others, thermogravimetric analysis, physisorption, pH, and conductivity analysis were used to characterize the chars. Mesophilic AD batch tests with different concentrations (0.025, 0.05, 0.5, 1.0, 7.0, 14.0 gL-1) of all chars (GR and ACs, respectively) were performed with digester sludge from a wastewater treatment plant for a period of 47 d. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) as well as biogas production and CH4 concentrations were monitored. It could be shown, that concentrations below 1.0 g char L-1 did not result in significant effects on CH4 and/or VFA production, whereas high concentrations of GR and AC influenced both, the CH4 yield and kinetics. Depending on the production process and the characteristics of the chars, the effect on AD varied, whereby both, positive and negative effects on biogas yield and methane production were observed. This study provides the first systematic evaluation of char application to AD processes, and therefore allows for better predictions of char applicability and effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Margreiter
- Department of Microbiology, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
- Josef Ressel Center for the Production of Activated Carbon from Municipal Residues, MCI Innsbruck, Maximilianstraße 2, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Maraike Probst
- Department of Microbiology, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Eva Maria Prem
- Department of Microbiology, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Angela Hofmann
- Josef Ressel Center for the Production of Activated Carbon from Municipal Residues, MCI Innsbruck, Maximilianstraße 2, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andreas Otto Wagner
- Department of Microbiology, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mukherjee D, Selvi VA, Ganguly J, Masto RE. New insights into the coal-associated methane architect: the ancient archaebacteria. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:234. [PMID: 38664262 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-03961-1] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Exploration and marketable exploitation of coalbed methane (CBM) as cleaner fuel has been started globally. In addition, incidence of methane in coal basins is an imperative fraction of global carbon cycle. Significantly, subsurface coal ecosystem contains methane forming archaea. There is a rising attention in optimizing microbial coal gasification to exploit the abundant or inexpensive coal reserves worldwide. Therefore, it is essential to understand the coalbeds in geo-microbial perspective. Current review provides an in-depth analysis of recent advances in our understanding of how methanoarchaea are distributed in coal deposits globally. Specially, we highlight the findings on coal-associated methanoarchaeal existence, abundance, diversity, metabolic activity, and biogeography in diverse coal basins worldwide. Growing evidences indicates that we have arrived an exciting era of archaeal research. Moreover, gasification of coal into methane by utilizing microbial methanogenesis is a considerable way to mitigate the energy crisis for the rising world population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diptangshu Mukherjee
- Industrial Biotechnology and Waste Utilization Research Group, CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Digwadih Campus, PO FRI, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, 828108, India
| | - Vetrivel Angu Selvi
- Industrial Biotechnology and Waste Utilization Research Group, CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Digwadih Campus, PO FRI, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, 828108, India.
| | - Jhuma Ganguly
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology Shibpur, PO Botanical Garden, Howrah, West Bengal, 711103, India
| | - Reginald Ebhin Masto
- Industrial Biotechnology and Waste Utilization Research Group, CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Digwadih Campus, PO FRI, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, 828108, India
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Aziz I, Kayastha K, Kaltwasser S, Vonck J, Welsch S, Murphy BJ, Kahnt J, Wu D, Wagner T, Shima S, Ermler U. Structural and mechanistic basis of the central energy-converting methyltransferase complex of methanogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315568121. [PMID: 38530900 PMCID: PMC10998594 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315568121] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Methanogenic archaea inhabiting anaerobic environments play a crucial role in the global biogeochemical material cycle. The most universal electrogenic reaction of their methane-producing energy metabolism is catalyzed by N 5-methyl-tetrahydromethanopterin: coenzyme M methyltransferase (MtrABCDEFGH), which couples the vectorial Na+ transport with a methyl transfer between the one-carbon carriers tetrahydromethanopterin and coenzyme M via a vitamin B12 derivative (cobamide) as prosthetic group. We present the 2.08 Å cryo-EM structure of Mtr(ABCDEFG)3 composed of the central Mtr(ABFG)3 stalk symmetrically flanked by three membrane-spanning MtrCDE globes. Tetraether glycolipids visible in the map fill gaps inside the multisubunit complex. Putative coenzyme M and Na+ were identified inside or in a side-pocket of a cytoplasmic cavity formed within MtrCDE. Its bottom marks the gate of the transmembrane pore occluded in the cryo-EM map. By integrating Alphafold2 information, functionally competent MtrA-MtrH and MtrA-MtrCDE subcomplexes could be modeled and thus the methyl-tetrahydromethanopterin demethylation and coenzyme M methylation half-reactions structurally described. Methyl-transfer-driven Na+ transport is proposed to be based on a strong and weak complex between MtrCDE and MtrA carrying vitamin B12, the latter being placed at the entrance of the cytoplasmic MtrCDE cavity. Hypothetically, strongly attached methyl-cob(III)amide (His-on) carrying MtrA induces an inward-facing conformation, Na+ flux into the membrane protein center and finally coenzyme M methylation while the generated loosely attached (or detached) MtrA carrying cob(I)amide (His-off) induces an outward-facing conformation and an extracellular Na+ outflux. Methyl-cob(III)amide (His-on) is regenerated in the distant active site of the methyl-tetrahydromethanopterin binding MtrH implicating a large-scale shuttling movement of the vitamin B12-carrying domain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iram Aziz
- Molecular Membrane Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am MainD-60438, Germany
| | - Kanwal Kayastha
- Molecular Membrane Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am MainD-60438, Germany
| | - Susann Kaltwasser
- Central Electron Microscopy Facility, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am MainD-60438, Germany
| | - Janet Vonck
- Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am MainD-60438, Germany
| | - Sonja Welsch
- Central Electron Microscopy Facility, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am MainD-60438, Germany
| | - Bonnie J. Murphy
- Redox and Metalloprotein Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am MainD-60438, Germany
| | - Jörg Kahnt
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, MarburgD-35043, Germany
| | - Di Wu
- Molecular Membrane Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am MainD-60438, Germany
| | - Tristan Wagner
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, BremenD-28359, Germany
| | - Seigo Shima
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, MarburgD-35043, Germany
| | - Ulrich Ermler
- Molecular Membrane Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am MainD-60438, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu Y, Zhao N, Dai S, He R, Zhang Y. Metagenomic insights into phenanthrene biodegradation in electrical field-governed biofilms for groundwater bioremediation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133477. [PMID: 38218033 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Electrical fields (EFs)-assisted in-situ bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated groundwater, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, has drawn increasing attention. However, the long-term stability, the EFs influence, and metabolic pathways are still poorly understood, hindering the further development of robust technology design. Herein, a series of EFs was applied to the phenanthrene-contaminated groundwater, and the corresponding system performance was investigated. The highest removal capacity of phenanthrene (phe) (7.63 g/(m3·d)) was achieved with EF_0.8 V biofilm at a hydrolytic retention time of 0.5 d. All the biofilms with four EFs exhibited a high removal efficiency of phe over 80% during a 100-d continuous-flow operation. Intermediates analysis revealed the main pathways of phe degradation: phthalate and salicylate via hydroxylation, methylation, carboxylation, and ring cleavage steps. Synergistic effects between phe-degraders (Dechloromonas), fermentative bacteria (Delftia), and electroactive microorganisms (Geobacter) were the main contributors to the complete phe mineralization. Genes encoding various proteins of methyl-accepting (mcp), response regulator (cheABDRY), and type IV pilus (pilABCMQV) were dominant, revealing the importance of cell motility and extracellular electron transfer. Metagenomics analysis unveiled phe-degrading genes, including ring reduction enzymes (bamBCDE), carboxylase of aromatics (ubiD), and methyltransferase protein (ubiE, pcm). These findings offered a molecular understanding of refractory organics' decompositions in EFs-governed biotechnology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Nannan Zhao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Platform for Low-carbon Recycling of Waste and Green Development, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China.
| | - Shuo Dai
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Ruo He
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Platform for Low-carbon Recycling of Waste and Green Development, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhang X, Wang Y, Jiao P, Zhang M, Deng Y, Jiang C, Liu XW, Lou L, Li Y, Zhang XX, Ma L. Microbiome-functionality in anaerobic digesters: A critical review. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 249:120891. [PMID: 38016221 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Microbially driven anaerobic digestion (AD) processes are of immense interest due to their role in the biovalorization of biowastes into renewable energy resources. The function-versatile microbiome, interspecies syntrophic interactions, and trophic-level metabolic pathways are important microbial components of AD. However, the lack of a comprehensive understanding of the process hampers efforts to improve AD efficiency. This study presents a holistic review of research on the microbial and metabolic "black box" of AD processes. Recent research on microbiology, functional traits, and metabolic pathways in AD, as well as the responses of functional microbiota and metabolic capabilities to optimization strategies are reviewed. The diverse ecophysiological traits and cooperation/competition interactions of the functional guilds and the biomanipulation of microbial ecology to generate valuable products other than methane during AD are outlined. The results show that AD communities prioritize cooperation to improve functional redundancy, and the dominance of specific microbes can be explained by thermodynamics, resource allocation models, and metabolic division of labor during cross-feeding. In addition, the multi-omics approaches used to decipher the ecological principles of AD consortia are summarized in detail. Lastly, future microbial research and engineering applications of AD are proposed. This review presents an in-depth understanding of microbiome-functionality mechanisms of AD and provides critical guidance for the directional and efficient bioconversion of biowastes into methane and other valuable products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Zhang
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Yiwei Wang
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Pengbo Jiao
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Ye Deng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, PR China
| | - Chengying Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China
| | - Xian-Wei Liu
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
| | - Liping Lou
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, PR China
| | - Yongmei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Xu-Xiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Liping Ma
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Technology Innovation Center for Land Spatial Eco-restoration in Metropolitan Area, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai 200062, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ma JY, Yan Z, Sun XD, Jiang YQ, Duan JL, Feng LJ, Zhu FP, Liu XY, Xia PF, Yuan XZ. A hybrid photocatalytic system enables direct glucose utilization for methanogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317058121. [PMID: 38232281 PMCID: PMC10823229 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317058121] [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: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Integration of methanogenic archaea with photocatalysts presents a sustainable solution for solar-driven methanogenesis. However, maximizing CH4 conversion efficiency remains challenging due to the intrinsic energy conservation and strictly restricted substrates of methanogenic archaea. Here, we report a solar-driven biotic-abiotic hybrid (biohybrid) system by incorporating cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles with a rationally designed methanogenic archaeon Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A, in which the glucose synergist protein and glucose kinase, an energy-efficient route for glucose transport and phosphorylation from Zymomonas mobilis, were implemented to facilitate nonnative substrate glucose for methanogenesis. We demonstrate that the photo-excited electrons facilitate membrane-bound electron transport chain, thereby augmenting the Na+ and H+ ion gradients across membrane to enhance adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. Additionally, this biohybrid system promotes the metabolism of pyruvate to acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA) and inhibits the flow of AcCoA to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, resulting in a 1.26-fold augmentation in CH4 production from glucose-derived carbon. Our results provide a unique strategy for enhancing methanogenesis through rational biohybrid design and reprogramming, which gives a promising avenue for sustainably manufacturing value-added chemicals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Ya Ma
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao266237, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhen Yan
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao266237, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Dong Sun
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao266237, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu-Qian Jiang
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao266237, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian-Lu Duan
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao266237, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li-Juan Feng
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan250014, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fan-Ping Zhu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao266237, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Yu Liu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao266237, People’s Republic of China
| | - Peng-Fei Xia
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao266237, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xian-Zheng Yuan
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao266237, People’s Republic of China
- Sino-French Research Institute for Ecology and Environment, Shandong University, Qingdao266237, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ellenbogen JB, Borton MA, McGivern BB, Cronin DR, Hoyt DW, Freire-Zapata V, McCalley CK, Varner RK, Crill PM, Wehr RA, Chanton JP, Woodcroft BJ, Tfaily MM, Tyson GW, Rich VI, Wrighton KC. Methylotrophy in the Mire: direct and indirect routes for methane production in thawing permafrost. mSystems 2024; 9:e0069823. [PMID: 38063415 PMCID: PMC10805028 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00698-23] [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: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
While wetlands are major sources of biogenic methane (CH4), our understanding of resident microbial metabolism is incomplete, which compromises the prediction of CH4 emissions under ongoing climate change. Here, we employed genome-resolved multi-omics to expand our understanding of methanogenesis in the thawing permafrost peatland of Stordalen Mire in Arctic Sweden. In quadrupling the genomic representation of the site's methanogens and examining their encoded metabolism, we revealed that nearly 20% of the metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) encoded the potential for methylotrophic methanogenesis. Further, 27% of the transcriptionally active methanogens expressed methylotrophic genes; for Methanosarcinales and Methanobacteriales MAGs, these data indicated the use of methylated oxygen compounds (e.g., methanol), while for Methanomassiliicoccales, they primarily implicated methyl sulfides and methylamines. In addition to methanogenic methylotrophy, >1,700 bacterial MAGs across 19 phyla encoded anaerobic methylotrophic potential, with expression across 12 phyla. Metabolomic analyses revealed the presence of diverse methylated compounds in the Mire, including some known methylotrophic substrates. Active methylotrophy was observed across all stages of a permafrost thaw gradient in Stordalen, with the most frozen non-methanogenic palsa found to host bacterial methylotrophy and the partially thawed bog and fully thawed fen seen to house both methanogenic and bacterial methylotrophic activities. Methanogenesis across increasing permafrost thaw is thus revised from the sole dominance of hydrogenotrophic production and the appearance of acetoclastic at full thaw to consider the co-occurrence of methylotrophy throughout. Collectively, these findings indicate that methanogenic and bacterial methylotrophy may be an important and previously underappreciated component of carbon cycling and emissions in these rapidly changing wetland habitats.IMPORTANCEWetlands are the biggest natural source of atmospheric methane (CH4) emissions, yet we have an incomplete understanding of the suite of microbial metabolism that results in CH4 formation. Specifically, methanogenesis from methylated compounds is excluded from all ecosystem models used to predict wetland contributions to the global CH4 budget. Though recent studies have shown methylotrophic methanogenesis to be active across wetlands, the broad climatic importance of the metabolism remains critically understudied. Further, some methylotrophic bacteria are known to produce methanogenic by-products like acetate, increasing the complexity of the microbial methylotrophic metabolic network. Prior studies of Stordalen Mire have suggested that methylotrophic methanogenesis is irrelevant in situ and have not emphasized the bacterial capacity for metabolism, both of which we countered in this study. The importance of our findings lies in the significant advancement toward unraveling the broader impact of methylotrophs in wetland methanogenesis and, consequently, their contribution to the terrestrial global carbon cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jared B. Ellenbogen
- Department of Soil and Crop Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Mikayla A. Borton
- Department of Soil and Crop Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Bridget B. McGivern
- Department of Soil and Crop Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Dylan R. Cronin
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - David W. Hoyt
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Earth and Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | | | - Carmody K. McCalley
- Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Ruth K. Varner
- Department of Earth Sciences and Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Patrick M. Crill
- Department of Geological Sciences, Bolin Center for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Richard A. Wehr
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jeffrey P. Chanton
- Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Ben J. Woodcroft
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Malak M. Tfaily
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Gene W. Tyson
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Virginia I. Rich
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Kelly C. Wrighton
- Department of Soil and Crop Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yin Y, Kara-Murdoch F, Murdoch RW, Yan J, Chen G, Xie Y, Sun Y, Löffler FE. Nitrous oxide inhibition of methanogenesis represents an underappreciated greenhouse gas emission feedback. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae027. [PMID: 38447133 PMCID: PMC10960958 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are major greenhouse gases that are predominantly generated by microbial activities in anoxic environments. N2O inhibition of methanogenesis has been reported, but comprehensive efforts to obtain kinetic information are lacking. Using the model methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri strain Fusaro and digester sludge-derived methanogenic enrichment cultures, we conducted growth yield and kinetic measurements and showed that micromolar concentrations of N2O suppress the growth of methanogens and CH4 production from major methanogenic substrate classes. Acetoclastic methanogenesis, estimated to account for two-thirds of the annual 1 billion metric tons of biogenic CH4, was most sensitive to N2O, with inhibitory constants (KI) in the range of 18-25 μM, followed by hydrogenotrophic (KI, 60-90 μM) and methylotrophic (KI, 110-130 μM) methanogenesis. Dissolved N2O concentrations exceeding these KI values are not uncommon in managed (i.e. fertilized soils and wastewater treatment plants) and unmanaged ecosystems. Future greenhouse gas emissions remain uncertain, particularly from critical zone environments (e.g. thawing permafrost) with large amounts of stored nitrogenous and carbonaceous materials that are experiencing unprecedented warming. Incorporating relevant feedback effects, such as the significant N2O inhibition on methanogenesis, can refine climate models and improve predictive capabilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yongchao Yin
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, United States
| | - Fadime Kara-Murdoch
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, United States
| | - Robert W Murdoch
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| | - Jun Yan
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China
| | - Gao Chen
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| | - Yongchao Xie
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| | - Yanchen Sun
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| | - Frank E Löffler
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Khairunisa BH, Heryakusuma C, Ike K, Mukhopadhyay B, Susanti D. Evolving understanding of rumen methanogen ecophysiology. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1296008. [PMID: 38029083 PMCID: PMC10658910 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1296008] [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: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Production of methane by methanogenic archaea, or methanogens, in the rumen of ruminants is a thermodynamic necessity for microbial conversion of feed to volatile fatty acids, which are essential nutrients for the animals. On the other hand, methane is a greenhouse gas and its production causes energy loss for the animal. Accordingly, there are ongoing efforts toward developing effective strategies for mitigating methane emissions from ruminant livestock that require a detailed understanding of the diversity and ecophysiology of rumen methanogens. Rumen methanogens evolved from free-living autotrophic ancestors through genome streamlining involving gene loss and acquisition. The process yielded an oligotrophic lifestyle, and metabolically efficient and ecologically adapted descendants. This specialization poses serious challenges to the efforts of obtaining axenic cultures of rumen methanogens, and consequently, the information on their physiological properties remains in most part inferred from those of their non-rumen representatives. This review presents the current knowledge of rumen methanogens and their metabolic contributions to enteric methane production. It also identifies the respective critical gaps that need to be filled for aiding the efforts to mitigate methane emission from livestock operations and at the same time increasing the productivity in this critical agriculture sector.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian Heryakusuma
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Kelechi Ike
- Department of Biology, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC, United States
| | - Biswarup Mukhopadhyay
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Dwi Susanti
- Microbial Discovery Research, BiomEdit, Greenfield, IN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Yu T, Hu H, Zeng X, Wang Y, Pan D, Deng L, Liang L, Hou J, Wang F. Widespread Bathyarchaeia encode a novel methyltransferase utilizing lignin-derived aromatics. MLIFE 2023; 2:272-282. [PMID: 38817817 PMCID: PMC10989822 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Lignin degradation is a major process in the global carbon cycle across both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Bathyarchaeia, which are among the most abundant microorganisms in marine sediment, have been proposed to mediate anaerobic lignin degradation. However, the mechanism of bathyarchaeial lignin degradation remains unclear. Here, we report an enrichment culture of Bathyarchaeia, named Candidatus Baizosediminiarchaeum ligniniphilus DL1YTT001 (Ca. B. ligniniphilus), from coastal sediments that can grow with lignin as the sole organic carbon source under mesophilic anoxic conditions. Ca. B. ligniniphilus possesses and highly expresses novel methyltransferase 1 (MT1, mtgB) for transferring methoxyl groups from lignin monomers to cob(I)alamin. MtgBs have no homology with known microbial methyltransferases and are present only in bathyarchaeial lineages. Heterologous expression of the mtgB gene confirmed O-demethylation activity. The mtgB genes were identified in metagenomic data sets from a wide range of coastal sediments, and they were highly expressed in coastal sediments from the East China Sea. These findings suggest that Bathyarchaeia, capable of O-demethylation via their novel and specific methyltransferases, are ubiquitous in coastal sediments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Yu
- School of OceanographyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Haining Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xianhong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yinzhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Donald Pan
- School of OceanographyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Longhui Deng
- School of OceanographyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Lewen Liang
- School of OceanographyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jialin Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Fengping Wang
- School of OceanographyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
- Southern Marine Science and EngineeringGuangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai)ZhuhaiChina
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kamagata Y. Cultivating the unseen: Lessons from James Tiedje. MLIFE 2023; 2:217-223. [PMID: 38817816 PMCID: PMC10989887 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Yoichi Kamagata
- National Institute of Advanced and Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)TsukubaJapan
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Khomyakova MA, Merkel AY, Mamiy DD, Klyukina AA, Slobodkin AI. Phenotypic and genomic characterization of Bathyarchaeum tardum gen. nov., sp. nov., a cultivated representative of the archaeal class Bathyarchaeia. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1214631. [PMID: 37675420 PMCID: PMC10477458 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1214631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bathyarchaeia are widespread in various anoxic ecosystems and are considered one of the most abundant microbial groups on the earth. There are only a few reports of laboratory cultivation of Bathyarchaeia, and none of the representatives of this class has been isolated in pure culture. Here, we report a sustainable cultivation of the Bathyarchaeia archaeon (strain M17CTs) enriched from anaerobic sediment of a coastal lake. The cells of strain M17CTs were small non-motile cocci, 0.4-0.7 μm in diameter. The cytoplasmic membrane was surrounded by an S-layer and covered with an outermost electron-dense sheath. Strain M17CTs is strictly anaerobic mesophile. It grows at 10-45°C (optimum 37°C), at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum 8.0), and at NaCl concentrations of 0-60 g l-1 (optimum 20 g l-1). Growth occurred in the presence of methoxylated aromatic compounds (3,4-dimethoxybenzoate and vanillate) together with complex proteinaceous substrates. Dimethyl sulfoxide and nitrate stimulated growth. The phylogenomic analysis placed strain M17CTs to BIN-L-1 genus-level lineage from the BA1 family-level lineage and B26-1 order-level lineage (former subgroup-8) within the class Bathyarchaeia. The complete genome of strain M17CTs had a size of 2.15 Mb with a DNA G + C content of 38.1%. Based on phylogenomic position and phenotypic and genomic properties, we propose to assign strain M17CTs to a new species of a novel genus Bathyarchaeum tardum gen. nov., sp. nov. within the class Bathyarchaeia. This is the first sustainably cultivated representative of Bathyarchaeia. We propose under SeqCode the complete genome sequence of strain M17CTs (CP122380) as a nomenclatural type of Bathyarchaeum tardum, which should be considered as a type for the genus Bathyarchaeum, which is proposed as a type for the family Bathyarchaeaceae, order Bathyarchaeales, and of the class Bathyarchaeia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria A. Khomyakova
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, FRC Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Y. Merkel
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, FRC Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dana D. Mamiy
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexandra A. Klyukina
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, FRC Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander I. Slobodkin
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, FRC Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Bueno de Mesquita CP, Wu D, Tringe SG. Methyl-Based Methanogenesis: an Ecological and Genomic Review. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2023; 87:e0002422. [PMID: 36692297 PMCID: PMC10029344 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00024-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Methyl-based methanogenesis is one of three broad categories of archaeal anaerobic methanogenesis, including both the methyl dismutation (methylotrophic) pathway and the methyl-reducing (also known as hydrogen-dependent methylotrophic) pathway. Methyl-based methanogenesis is increasingly recognized as an important source of methane in a variety of environments. Here, we provide an overview of methyl-based methanogenesis research, including the conditions under which methyl-based methanogenesis can be a dominant source of methane emissions, experimental methods for distinguishing different pathways of methane production, molecular details of the biochemical pathways involved, and the genes and organisms involved in these processes. We also identify the current gaps in knowledge and present a genomic and metagenomic survey of methyl-based methanogenesis genes, highlighting the diversity of methyl-based methanogens at multiple taxonomic levels and the widespread distribution of known methyl-based methanogenesis genes and families across different environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dongying Wu
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Susannah G. Tringe
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Santiago-Martínez MG, Ferry JG. Methods for Culturing Anaerobic Microorganisms. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2648:231-238. [PMID: 37039994 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3080-8_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic microorganisms (anaerobes) proliferate in diverse oxygen-free environments. They inhabit Earth's soils and aquatic sediments, the rumen and gut of mammals, and the gut of insects among many other oxygen-free environments. Anaerobes impact biotechnological, biomedical, ecological, and astrobiological fields. Sensitivity to oxygen is of prime consideration for successful culturing which is essential to understand function. Although cultivated for many years, the protocols and media components have been modified and adapted to the special needs of species, as well as conditions and variables for experimental evaluations. Here we describe a revised method used in our laboratories for the growth of methane-producing anaerobes (methanogenic archaea) which are among the most oxygen sensitive. The method is an example for the preparation of more specific media to cultivate a wide diversity of anaerobes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michel Geovanni Santiago-Martínez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
| | - James Gregory Ferry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Zhang X, Zhang C, Liu Y, Zhang R, Li M. Non-negligible roles of archaea in coastal carbon biogeochemical cycling. Trends Microbiol 2022; 31:586-600. [PMID: 36567186 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Coastal zones are among the world's most productive ecosystems. They store vast amounts of organic carbon, as 'blue carbon' reservoirs, and impact global climate change. Archaeal communities are integral components of coastal microbiomes but their ecological roles are often overlooked. However, archaeal diversity, metabolism, evolution, and interactions, revealed by recent studies using rapidly developing cutting-edge technologies, place archaea as important players in coastal carbon biogeochemical cycling. We here summarize the latest advances in the understanding of archaeal carbon cycling processes in coastal ecosystems, specifically, archaeal involvement in CO2 fixation, organic biopolymer transformation, and methane metabolism. We also showcase the potential to use of archaeal communities to increase carbon sequestration and reduce methane production, with implications for mitigating climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinxu Zhang
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Cuijing Zhang
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Meng Li
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Adam PS, Kolyfetis GE, Bornemann TLV, Vorgias CE, Probst AJ. Genomic remnants of ancestral methanogenesis and hydrogenotrophy in Archaea drive anaerobic carbon cycling. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm9651. [PMID: 36332026 PMCID: PMC9635834 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm9651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic methane metabolism is among the hallmarks of Archaea, originating very early in their evolution. Here, we show that the ancestor of methane metabolizers was an autotrophic CO2-reducing hydrogenotrophic methanogen that possessed the two main complexes, methyl-CoM reductase (Mcr) and tetrahydromethanopterin-CoM methyltransferase (Mtr), the anaplerotic hydrogenases Eha and Ehb, and a set of other genes collectively called "methanogenesis markers" but could not oxidize alkanes. Overturning recent inferences, we demonstrate that methyl-dependent hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis has emerged multiple times independently, either due to a loss of Mtr while Mcr is inherited vertically or from an ancient lateral acquisition of Mcr. Even if Mcr is lost, Mtr, Eha, Ehb, and the markers can persist, resulting in mixotrophic metabolisms centered around the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway. Through their methanogenesis remnants, Thorarchaeia and two newly reconstructed order-level lineages in Archaeoglobi and Bathyarchaeia act as metabolically versatile players in carbon cycling of anoxic environments across the globe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis S. Adam
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Corresponding author.
| | - George E. Kolyfetis
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Till L. V. Bornemann
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Constantinos E. Vorgias
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Alexander J. Probst
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, Environmental Metagenomics, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ou YF, Dong HP, McIlroy SJ, Crowe SA, Hallam SJ, Han P, Kallmeyer J, Simister RL, Vuillemin A, Leu AO, Liu Z, Zheng YL, Sun QL, Liu M, Tyson GW, Hou LJ. Expanding the phylogenetic distribution of cytochrome b-containing methanogenic archaea sheds light on the evolution of methanogenesis. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:2373-2387. [PMID: 35810262 PMCID: PMC9478090 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01281-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Methane produced by methanogenic archaea has an important influence on Earth's changing climate. Methanogenic archaea are phylogenetically diverse and widespread in anoxic environments. These microorganisms can be divided into two subgroups based on whether or not they use b-type cytochromes for energy conservation. Methanogens with b-type cytochromes have a wider substrate range and higher growth yields than those without them. To date, methanogens with b-type cytochromes were found exclusively in the phylum "Ca. Halobacteriota" (formerly part of the phylum Euryarchaeota). Here, we present the discovery of metagenome-assembled genomes harboring methyl-coenzyme M reductase genes reconstructed from mesophilic anoxic sediments, together with the previously reported thermophilic "Ca. Methylarchaeum tengchongensis", representing a novel archaeal order, designated the "Ca. Methylarchaeales", of the phylum Thermoproteota (formerly the TACK superphylum). These microorganisms contain genes required for methyl-reducing methanogenesis and the Wood-Ljundahl pathway. Importantly, the genus "Ca. Methanotowutia" of the "Ca. Methylarchaeales" encode a cytochrome b-containing heterodisulfide reductase (HdrDE) and methanophenazine-reducing hydrogenase complex that have similar gene arrangements to those found in methanogenic Methanosarcinales. Our results indicate that members of the "Ca. Methylarchaeales" are methanogens with cytochromes and can conserve energy via membrane-bound electron transport chains. Phylogenetic and amalgamated likelihood estimation analyses indicate that methanogens with cytochrome b-containing electron transfer complexes likely evolved before diversification of Thermoproteota or "Ca. Halobacteriota" in the early Archean Eon. Surveys of public sequence databases suggest that members of the lineage are globally distributed in anoxic sediments and may be important players in the methane cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Fei Ou
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Hong-Po Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
| | - Simon J McIlroy
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Sean A Crowe
- Ecosystem Services, Commercialization Platforms, and Entrepreneurship (ECOSCOPE) Training Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Steven J Hallam
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ping Han
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jens Kallmeyer
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section Geomicrobiology, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Rachel L Simister
- Ecosystem Services, Commercialization Platforms, and Entrepreneurship (ECOSCOPE) Training Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Aurele Vuillemin
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section Geomicrobiology, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Andy O Leu
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Zhanfei Liu
- Marine Science Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, TX, 78373, USA
| | - Yan-Ling Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Qian-Li Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Min Liu
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Gene W Tyson
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Li-Jun Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Campbell BC, Greenfield P, Gong S, Barnhart EP, Midgley DJ, Paulsen IT, George SC. Methanogenic archaea in subsurface coal seams are biogeographically distinct: an analysis of metagenomically-derived mcrA sequences. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:4065-4078. [PMID: 35437913 PMCID: PMC9790511 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The production of methane as an end-product of organic matter degradation in the absence of other terminal electron acceptors is common, and has often been studied in environments such as animal guts, soils and wetlands due to its potency as a greenhouse gas. To date, however, the study of the biogeographic distribution of methanogens across coal seam environments has been minimal. Here, we show that coal seams are host to a diverse range of methanogens, which are distinctive to each geological basin. Based on comparisons to close relatives from other methanogenic environments, the dominant methanogenic pathway in these basins is hydrogenotrophic, with acetoclastic being a second major pathway in the Surat Basin. Finally, mcrA and 16S rRNA gene primer biases were predominantly seen to affect the detection of Methanocellales, Methanomicrobiales and Methanosarcinales taxa in this study. Subsurface coal methanogenic community distributions and pathways presented here provide insights into important metabolites and bacterial partners for in situ coal biodegradation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bronwyn C. Campbell
- Energy Business UnitCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)LindfieldNSW2070Australia,School of Natural SciencesMacquarie UniversityNorth RydeNSW2109Australia
| | - Paul Greenfield
- Energy Business UnitCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)LindfieldNSW2070Australia,School of Natural SciencesMacquarie UniversityNorth RydeNSW2109Australia
| | - Se Gong
- Energy Business UnitCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)LindfieldNSW2070Australia
| | | | - David J. Midgley
- Energy Business UnitCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)LindfieldNSW2070Australia
| | - Ian T. Paulsen
- School of Natural SciencesMacquarie UniversityNorth RydeNSW2109Australia
| | - Simon C. George
- School of Natural SciencesMacquarie UniversityNorth RydeNSW2109Australia
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
The Polar Fox Lagoon in Siberia harbours a community of Bathyarchaeota possessing the potential for peptide fermentation and acetogenesis. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2022; 115:1229-1244. [PMID: 35947314 PMCID: PMC9534799 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-022-01767-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Archaea belonging to the phylum Bathyarchaeota are the predominant archaeal species in cold, anoxic marine sediments and additionally occur in a variety of habitats, both natural and man-made. Metagenomic and single-cell sequencing studies suggest that Bathyarchaeota may have a significant impact on the emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, either through direct production of methane or through the degradation of complex organic matter that can subsequently be converted into methane. This is especially relevant in permafrost regions where climate change leads to thawing of permafrost, making high amounts of stored carbon bioavailable. Here we present the analysis of nineteen draft genomes recovered from a sediment core metagenome of the Polar Fox Lagoon, a thermokarst lake located on the Bykovsky Peninsula in Siberia, Russia, which is connected to the brackish Tiksi Bay. We show that the Bathyarchaeota in this lake are predominantly peptide degraders, producing reduced ferredoxin from the fermentation of peptides, while degradation pathways for plant-derived polymers were found to be incomplete. Several genomes encoded the potential for acetogenesis through the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, but methanogenesis was determined to be unlikely due to the lack of genes encoding the key enzyme in methanogenesis, methyl-CoM reductase. Many genomes lacked a clear pathway for recycling reduced ferredoxin. Hydrogen metabolism was also hardly found: one type 4e [NiFe] hydrogenase was annotated in a single MAG and no [FeFe] hydrogenases were detected. Little evidence was found for syntrophy through formate or direct interspecies electron transfer, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of the metabolism of these organisms.
Collapse
|
22
|
Täumer J, Marhan S, Groß V, Jensen C, Kuss AW, Kolb S, Urich T. Linking transcriptional dynamics of CH 4-cycling grassland soil microbiomes to seasonal gas fluxes. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:1788-1797. [PMID: 35388141 PMCID: PMC9213473 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01229-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Soil CH4 fluxes are driven by CH4-producing and -consuming microorganisms that determine whether soils are sources or sinks of this potent greenhouse gas. To date, a comprehensive understanding of underlying microbiome dynamics has rarely been obtained in situ. Using quantitative metatranscriptomics, we aimed to link CH4-cycling microbiomes to net surface CH4 fluxes throughout a year in two grassland soils. CH4 fluxes were highly dynamic: both soils were net CH4 sources in autumn and winter and sinks in spring and summer, respectively. Correspondingly, methanogen mRNA abundances per gram soil correlated well with CH4 fluxes. Methanotroph to methanogen mRNA ratios were higher in spring and summer, when the soils acted as net CH4 sinks. CH4 uptake was associated with an increased proportion of USCα and γ pmoA and pmoA2 transcripts. We assume that methanogen transcript abundance may be useful to approximate changes in net surface CH4 emissions from grassland soils. High methanotroph to methanogen ratios would indicate CH4 sink properties. Our study links for the first time the seasonal transcriptional dynamics of CH4-cycling soil microbiomes to gas fluxes in situ. It suggests mRNA transcript abundances as promising indicators of dynamic ecosystem-level processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jana Täumer
- Institute of Microbiology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sven Marhan
- Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Soil Biology Department, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Verena Groß
- Institute of Microbiology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Corinna Jensen
- Human Molecular Genetics Group, Department of Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andreas W Kuss
- Human Molecular Genetics Group, Department of Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Steffen Kolb
- RA Landscape Functioning, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg, Germany.,Thaer Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tim Urich
- Institute of Microbiology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Garcia PS, Gribaldo S, Borrel G. Diversity and Evolution of Methane-Related Pathways in Archaea. Annu Rev Microbiol 2022; 76:727-755. [PMID: 35759872 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-041020-024935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Methane is one of the most important greenhouse gases on Earth and holds an important place in the global carbon cycle. Archaea are the only organisms that use methanogenesis to produce energy and rely on the methyl-coenzyme M reductase (Mcr) complex. Over the last decade, new results have significantly reshaped our view of the diversity of methane-related pathways in the Archaea. Many new lineages that synthesize or use methane have been identified across the whole archaeal tree, leading to a greatly expanded diversity of substrates and mechanisms. In this review, we present the state of the art of these advances and how they challenge established scenarios of the origin and evolution of methanogenesis, and we discuss the potential trajectories that may have led to this strikingly wide range of metabolisms.Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 76 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Simon Garcia
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, UMR CNRS 6047, Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell, Paris, France; ,
| | - Simonetta Gribaldo
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, UMR CNRS 6047, Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell, Paris, France; ,
| | - Guillaume Borrel
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, UMR CNRS 6047, Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell, Paris, France; ,
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Gendron A, Allen KD. Overview of Diverse Methyl/Alkyl-Coenzyme M Reductases and Considerations for Their Potential Heterologous Expression. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:867342. [PMID: 35547147 PMCID: PMC9081873 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.867342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) is an archaeal enzyme that catalyzes the final step of methanogenesis and the first step in the anaerobic oxidation of methane, the energy metabolisms of methanogens and anaerobic methanotrophs (ANME), respectively. Variants of MCR, known as alkyl-coenzyme M reductases, are involved in the anaerobic oxidation of short-chain alkanes including ethane, propane, and butane as well as the catabolism of long-chain alkanes from oil reservoirs. MCR is a dimer of heterotrimers (encoded by mcrABG) and requires the nickel-containing tetrapyrrole prosthetic group known as coenzyme F430. MCR houses a series of unusual post-translational modifications within its active site whose identities vary depending on the organism and whose functions remain unclear. Methanogenic MCRs are encoded in a highly conserved mcrBDCGA gene cluster, which encodes two accessory proteins, McrD and McrC, that are believed to be involved in the assembly and activation of MCR, respectively. The requirement of a unique and complex coenzyme, various unusual post-translational modifications, and many remaining questions surrounding assembly and activation of MCR largely limit in vitro experiments to native enzymes with recombinant methods only recently appearing. Production of MCRs in a heterologous host is an important step toward developing optimized biocatalytic systems for methane production as well as for bioconversion of methane and other alkanes into value-added compounds. This review will first summarize MCR catalysis and structure, followed by a discussion of advances and challenges related to the production of diverse MCRs in a heterologous host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksei Gendron
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Kylie D Allen
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Blair EM, Dickson KL, O'Malley MA. Microbial communities and their enzymes facilitate degradation of recalcitrant polymers in anaerobic digestion. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 64:100-108. [PMID: 34700124 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Microbial consortia efficiently degrade complex biopolymers found in the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). Through enzyme production and division of labor during anaerobic digestion, microbial communities break down recalcitrant polymers and make fermentation products, including methane. However, microbial communities remain underutilized for waste degradation as it remains difficult to characterize and predict microbial interactions during waste breakdown, especially as cultivation conditions change drastically throughout anaerobic digestion. This review discusses recent progress and opportunities in cultivating natural and engineered consortia for OFMSW hydrolysis, including how recalcitrant substrates are degraded by enzymes as well as the critical factors that govern microbial interactions and culture stability. Methods to measure substrate degradation are also reviewed, and we demonstrate the need for increased standardization to enable comparisons across different environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elaina M Blair
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Katharine L Dickson
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Michelle A O'Malley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA; Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Welte CU, de Graaf R, Dalcin Martins P, Jansen RS, Jetten MSM, Kurth JM. A novel methoxydotrophic metabolism discovered in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:4017-4033. [PMID: 33913565 PMCID: PMC8359953 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Methoxylated aromatic compounds (MACs) are important components of lignin found in significant amounts in the subsurface. Recently, the methanogenic archaeon Methermicoccus shengliensis was shown to be able to use a variety of MACs during methoxydotrophic growth. After a molecular survey, we found that the hyperthermophilic non‐methanogenic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus also encodes genes for a bacterial‐like demethoxylation system. In this study, we performed growth and metabolite analysis, and used transcriptomics to investigate the response of A. fulgidus during growth on MACs in comparison to growth on lactate. We observed that A. fulgidus converts MACs to their hydroxylated derivatives with CO2 as the main product and sulfate as electron acceptor. Furthermore, we could show that MACs improve the growth of A. fulgidus in the presence of organic substrates such as lactate. We also found evidence that other archaea such as Bathyarchaeota, Lokiarchaeota, Verstraetearchaeota, Korarchaeota, Helarchaeota and Nezhaarchaeota encode a demethoxylation system. In summary, we here describe the first non‐methanogenic archaeon with the ability to grow on MACs indicating that methoxydotrophic archaea might play a so far underestimated role in the global carbon cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia U Welte
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Earth System Science Center, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, Utrecht, 3584 CS, The Netherlands.,Soehngen Institute of Anaerobic Microbiology, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Rob de Graaf
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Paula Dalcin Martins
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Robert S Jansen
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Mike S M Jetten
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Earth System Science Center, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, Utrecht, 3584 CS, The Netherlands.,Soehngen Institute of Anaerobic Microbiology, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Julia M Kurth
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands.,Soehngen Institute of Anaerobic Microbiology, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|