MmcA is an electron conduit that facilitates both intracellular and extracellular electron transport in Methanosarcina acetivorans
Abstract Methanogens are a diverse group of Archaea that obligately couple energy conservation to the production of methane. Some methanogens encode alternate pathways for energy conservation, like anaerobic respiration, but the biochemical details of this process are unknown. We show that a multihe...
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Nature Portfolio
2024-04-01
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Series: | Nature Communications |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47564-2 |
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author | Dinesh Gupta Keying Chen Sean J. Elliott Dipti D. Nayak |
author_facet | Dinesh Gupta Keying Chen Sean J. Elliott Dipti D. Nayak |
author_sort | Dinesh Gupta |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Abstract Methanogens are a diverse group of Archaea that obligately couple energy conservation to the production of methane. Some methanogens encode alternate pathways for energy conservation, like anaerobic respiration, but the biochemical details of this process are unknown. We show that a multiheme c-type cytochrome called MmcA from Methanosarcina acetivorans is important for intracellular electron transport during methanogenesis and can also reduce extracellular electron acceptors like soluble Fe3+ and anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate. Consistent with these observations, MmcA displays reversible redox features ranging from −100 to −450 mV versus SHE. Additionally, mutants lacking mmcA have significantly slower Fe3+ reduction rates. The mmcA locus is prevalent in members of the Order Methanosarcinales and is a part of a distinct clade of multiheme cytochromes that are closely related to octaheme tetrathionate reductases. Taken together, MmcA might act as an electron conduit that can potentially support a variety of energy conservation strategies that extend beyond methanogenesis. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:13:55Z |
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issn | 2041-1723 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:13:55Z |
publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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series | Nature Communications |
spelling | doaj.art-3d27037c334d4f579d95d7ace3d4e6e42024-04-21T11:23:47ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-04-0115111010.1038/s41467-024-47564-2MmcA is an electron conduit that facilitates both intracellular and extracellular electron transport in Methanosarcina acetivoransDinesh Gupta0Keying Chen1Sean J. Elliott2Dipti D. Nayak3Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Chemistry, Boston UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, Boston UniversityDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of CaliforniaAbstract Methanogens are a diverse group of Archaea that obligately couple energy conservation to the production of methane. Some methanogens encode alternate pathways for energy conservation, like anaerobic respiration, but the biochemical details of this process are unknown. We show that a multiheme c-type cytochrome called MmcA from Methanosarcina acetivorans is important for intracellular electron transport during methanogenesis and can also reduce extracellular electron acceptors like soluble Fe3+ and anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate. Consistent with these observations, MmcA displays reversible redox features ranging from −100 to −450 mV versus SHE. Additionally, mutants lacking mmcA have significantly slower Fe3+ reduction rates. The mmcA locus is prevalent in members of the Order Methanosarcinales and is a part of a distinct clade of multiheme cytochromes that are closely related to octaheme tetrathionate reductases. Taken together, MmcA might act as an electron conduit that can potentially support a variety of energy conservation strategies that extend beyond methanogenesis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47564-2 |
spellingShingle | Dinesh Gupta Keying Chen Sean J. Elliott Dipti D. Nayak MmcA is an electron conduit that facilitates both intracellular and extracellular electron transport in Methanosarcina acetivorans Nature Communications |
title | MmcA is an electron conduit that facilitates both intracellular and extracellular electron transport in Methanosarcina acetivorans |
title_full | MmcA is an electron conduit that facilitates both intracellular and extracellular electron transport in Methanosarcina acetivorans |
title_fullStr | MmcA is an electron conduit that facilitates both intracellular and extracellular electron transport in Methanosarcina acetivorans |
title_full_unstemmed | MmcA is an electron conduit that facilitates both intracellular and extracellular electron transport in Methanosarcina acetivorans |
title_short | MmcA is an electron conduit that facilitates both intracellular and extracellular electron transport in Methanosarcina acetivorans |
title_sort | mmca is an electron conduit that facilitates both intracellular and extracellular electron transport in methanosarcina acetivorans |
url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47564-2 |
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