MmcA is an electron conduit that facilitates both intracellular and extracellular electron transport in Methanosarcina acetivorans

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.