Simultaneous Oxidation of Atmospheric Methane, Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen for Bacterial Growth
The second largest sink for atmospheric methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) is atmospheric methane oxidizing-bacteria (atmMOB). How atmMOB are able to sustain life on the low CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations in air is unknown. Here, we show that during growth, with air as its only source f...
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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author | Alexander Tøsdal Tveit Tilman Schmider Anne Grethe Hestnes Matteus Lindgren Alena Didriksen Mette Marianne Svenning |
author_facet | Alexander Tøsdal Tveit Tilman Schmider Anne Grethe Hestnes Matteus Lindgren Alena Didriksen Mette Marianne Svenning |
author_sort | Alexander Tøsdal Tveit |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The second largest sink for atmospheric methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) is atmospheric methane oxidizing-bacteria (atmMOB). How atmMOB are able to sustain life on the low CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations in air is unknown. Here, we show that during growth, with air as its only source for energy and carbon, the recently isolated atmospheric methane-oxidizer <i>Methylocapsa gorgona</i> MG08 (USCα) oxidizes three atmospheric energy sources: CH<sub>4</sub>, carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) to support growth. The cell-specific CH<sub>4</sub> oxidation rate of <i>M. gorgona</i> MG08 was estimated at ~0.7 × 10<sup>−18</sup> mol cell<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>, which, together with the oxidation of CO and H<sub>2</sub>, supplies 0.38 kJ Cmol<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> during growth in air. This is seven times lower than previously assumed necessary to support bacterial maintenance. We conclude that atmospheric methane-oxidation is supported by a metabolic flexibility that enables the simultaneous harvest of CH<sub>4</sub>, H<sub>2</sub> and CO from air, but the key characteristic of atmospheric CH<sub>4</sub> oxidizing bacteria might be very low energy requirements. |
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issn | 2076-2607 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:09:24Z |
publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
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series | Microorganisms |
spelling | doaj.art-c305a5f7a6e64f1387210e333861d8472023-12-03T12:51:41ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-01-019115310.3390/microorganisms9010153Simultaneous Oxidation of Atmospheric Methane, Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen for Bacterial GrowthAlexander Tøsdal Tveit0Tilman Schmider1Anne Grethe Hestnes2Matteus Lindgren3Alena Didriksen4Mette Marianne Svenning5Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, NorwayDepartment of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, NorwayDepartment of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, NorwayCAGE—Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate, Department of Geosciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9010 Tromsø, NorwayDepartment of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, NorwayDepartment of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, NorwayThe second largest sink for atmospheric methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) is atmospheric methane oxidizing-bacteria (atmMOB). How atmMOB are able to sustain life on the low CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations in air is unknown. Here, we show that during growth, with air as its only source for energy and carbon, the recently isolated atmospheric methane-oxidizer <i>Methylocapsa gorgona</i> MG08 (USCα) oxidizes three atmospheric energy sources: CH<sub>4</sub>, carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) to support growth. The cell-specific CH<sub>4</sub> oxidation rate of <i>M. gorgona</i> MG08 was estimated at ~0.7 × 10<sup>−18</sup> mol cell<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>, which, together with the oxidation of CO and H<sub>2</sub>, supplies 0.38 kJ Cmol<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> during growth in air. This is seven times lower than previously assumed necessary to support bacterial maintenance. We conclude that atmospheric methane-oxidation is supported by a metabolic flexibility that enables the simultaneous harvest of CH<sub>4</sub>, H<sub>2</sub> and CO from air, but the key characteristic of atmospheric CH<sub>4</sub> oxidizing bacteria might be very low energy requirements.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/1/153methanecarbon monoxidehydrogenenergygrowthatmospheric trace gases |
spellingShingle | Alexander Tøsdal Tveit Tilman Schmider Anne Grethe Hestnes Matteus Lindgren Alena Didriksen Mette Marianne Svenning Simultaneous Oxidation of Atmospheric Methane, Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen for Bacterial Growth Microorganisms methane carbon monoxide hydrogen energy growth atmospheric trace gases |
title | Simultaneous Oxidation of Atmospheric Methane, Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen for Bacterial Growth |
title_full | Simultaneous Oxidation of Atmospheric Methane, Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen for Bacterial Growth |
title_fullStr | Simultaneous Oxidation of Atmospheric Methane, Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen for Bacterial Growth |
title_full_unstemmed | Simultaneous Oxidation of Atmospheric Methane, Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen for Bacterial Growth |
title_short | Simultaneous Oxidation of Atmospheric Methane, Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen for Bacterial Growth |
title_sort | simultaneous oxidation of atmospheric methane carbon monoxide and hydrogen for bacterial growth |
topic | methane carbon monoxide hydrogen energy growth atmospheric trace gases |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/1/153 |
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