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Non-syntrophic methanogenic hydrocarbon degradation by an archaeal species

Author

Listed:
  • Zhuo Zhou

    (Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

  • Cui-jing Zhang

    (Shenzhen University)

  • Peng-fei Liu

    (Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
    Lanzhou University)

  • Lin Fu

    (Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

  • Rafael Laso-Pérez

    (University Bremen
    Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology
    Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC))

  • Lu Yang

    (Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

  • Li-ping Bai

    (Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

  • Jiang Li

    (Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

  • Min Yang

    (Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

  • Jun-zhang Lin

    (SINOPEC)

  • Wei-dong Wang

    (SINOPEC)

  • Gunter Wegener

    (University Bremen
    Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)

  • Meng Li

    (Shenzhen University)

  • Lei Cheng

    (Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

Abstract

The methanogenic degradation of oil hydrocarbons can proceed through syntrophic partnerships of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria and methanogenic archaea1–3. However, recent culture-independent studies have suggested that the archaeon ‘Candidatus Methanoliparum’ alone can combine the degradation of long-chain alkanes with methanogenesis4,5. Here we cultured Ca. Methanoliparum from a subsurface oil reservoir. Molecular analyses revealed that Ca. Methanoliparum contains and overexpresses genes encoding alkyl-coenzyme M reductases and methyl-coenzyme M reductases, the marker genes for archaeal multicarbon alkane and methane metabolism. Incubation experiments with different substrates and mass spectrometric detection of coenzyme-M-bound intermediates confirm that Ca. Methanoliparum thrives not only on a variety of long-chain alkanes, but also on n-alkylcyclohexanes and n-alkylbenzenes with long n-alkyl (C≥13) moieties. By contrast, short-chain alkanes (such as ethane to octane) or aromatics with short alkyl chains (C≤12) were not consumed. The wide distribution of Ca. Methanoliparum4–6 in oil-rich environments indicates that this alkylotrophic methanogen may have a crucial role in the transformation of hydrocarbons into methane.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhuo Zhou & Cui-jing Zhang & Peng-fei Liu & Lin Fu & Rafael Laso-Pérez & Lu Yang & Li-ping Bai & Jiang Li & Min Yang & Jun-zhang Lin & Wei-dong Wang & Gunter Wegener & Meng Li & Lei Cheng, 2022. "Non-syntrophic methanogenic hydrocarbon degradation by an archaeal species," Nature, Nature, vol. 601(7892), pages 257-262, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:601:y:2022:i:7892:d:10.1038_s41586-021-04235-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04235-2
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tiantian Yu & Lin Fu & Yinzhao Wang & Yijing Dong & Yifan Chen & Gunter Wegener & Lei Cheng & Fengping Wang, 2024. "Thermophilic Hadarchaeota grow on long-chain alkanes in syntrophy with methanogens," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Guibiao Yang & Zhihu Zheng & Benjamin W. Abbott & David Olefeldt & Christian Knoblauch & Yutong Song & Luyao Kang & Shuqi Qin & Yunfeng Peng & Yuanhe Yang, 2023. "Characteristics of methane emissions from alpine thermokarst lakes on the Tibetan Plateau," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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