Here we report that during continuous culture of Methanococcus maripaludis under defined nutrient conditions, growth yields relative to methane production decreased markedly with either H(2) excess or formate excess.
| Title | Effects of H2 and formate on growth yield and regulation of methanogenesis in Methanococcus maripaludis. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2013 |
| Authors | Costa, Kyle C., Yoon Sung Ho, Pan Min, Burn June A., Baliga Nitin S., and Leigh John A. |
| Journal | Journal of bacteriology |
| Date Published | 2013 Jan 18 |
| ISSN | 1098-5530 |
| Abstract | Hydrogenotrophic methanogenic Archaea are defined by a H(2) requirement for growth. Despite this requirement, many hydrogenotrophs are also capable of growth with formate as an electron donor for methanogenesis. While certain responses of these organisms to hydrogen availability have been characterized, responses to formate starvation have not been reported. Here we report that during continuous culture of Methanococcus maripaludis under defined nutrient conditions, growth yields relative to methane production decreased markedly with either H(2) excess or formate excess. Analysis of the growth yields of several mutants suggests that this phenomenon occurs independently of the storage of intracellular carbon or a transcriptional response to methanogenesis. Using microarray analysis, we show that the expression of genes encoding F(420)-dependent steps of methanogenesis, including one of two formate dehydrogenases, increased with H(2) starvation, but with formate occurred at high levels regardless of limitation or excess. One gene, encoding H(2)-dependent methylene-tetrahydromethanopterin dehydrogenase, decreased in expression with either H(2) limitation or formate limitation. Expression of genes for the second formate dehydrogenase, molybdenum-dependent formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase, and molybdenum transport increased specifically with formate limitation. Of the two formate dehydrogenases, only the first could support growth on formate in batch culture where formate was in excess. |
| Alternate Journal | J. Bacteriol. |