Hyperthermophilic methanogenic archaea act as high-pressure CH4 cell factories

• Published in: Communications biology Vol. 4; no. 1; p. 289
• Main Authors: Mauerhofer, Lisa-Maria, Zwirtmayr, Sara, Pappenreiter, Patricia, Bernacchi, Sébastien, Seifert, Arne H., Reischl, Barbara, Schmider, Tilman, Taubner, Ruth-Sophie, Paulik, Christian, Rittmann, Simon K.-M. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 05-03-2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 45/56; 631/114/2163; 631/326/2522; 631/326/26/2523; 631/326/26/2527; 631/61/252; Alternative energy sources; Amino acids; Biology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carbon dioxide; Cell culture; Coenzyme M; Life Sciences; Methane; Methanogenic archaea; Methanogenic bacteria; Pressure; Pure culture
• ISSN: 2399-3642; 2399-3642
• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01828-5

Bioprocesses converting carbon dioxide with molecular hydrogen to methane (CH
4
) are currently being developed to enable a transition to a renewable energy production system. In this study, we present a comprehensive physiological and biotechnological examination of 80 methanogenic archaea (methanogens) quantifying growth and CH
4
production kinetics at hyperbaric pressures up to 50 bar with regard to media, macro-, and micro-nutrient supply, specific genomic features, and cell envelope architecture. Our analysis aimed to systematically prioritize high-pressure and high-performance methanogens. We found that the hyperthermophilic methanococci
Methanotorris igneus
and
Methanocaldococcoccus jannaschii
are high-pressure CH
4
cell factories. Furthermore, our analysis revealed that high-performance methanogens are covered with an S-layer, and that they harbour the amino acid motif Tyr
α444
Gly
α445
Tyr
α446
in the alpha subunit of the methyl-coenzyme M reductase. Thus, high-pressure biological CH
4
production in pure culture could provide a purposeful route for the transition to a carbon-neutral bioenergy sector.
Mauerhofer et al. examine 80 species of methanogenic archaea at high pressures and evaluate growth and methane production, identifying
Methanotorris igneus
and
Methanocaldococcoccus jannaschii
as high-pressure methane cell factories. They find that high-performance methanogens are covered with an S-layer and harbour the amino acid motif Tyrα444 Glyα445 Tyrα446 in the alpha subunit of the methyl-coenzyme M reductase.