Methyl-reducing methanogenesis by a thermophilic culture of Korarchaeia

doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07829-8

. 2024 Aug;632(8027):1131-1136.

doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07829-8. Epub 2024 Jul 24.

Methyl-reducing methanogenesis by a thermophilic culture of Korarchaeia

Viola Krukenberg^#¹, Anthony J Kohtz^#², Zackary J Jay², Roland Hatzenpichler^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA. viola.krukenberg@montana.edu.
² Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
³ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA. roland.hatzenpichler@montana.edu.
⁴ Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA. roland.hatzenpichler@montana.edu.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 39048017
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07829-8

Methyl-reducing methanogenesis by a thermophilic culture of Korarchaeia

Viola Krukenberg et al. Nature. 2024 Aug.

. 2024 Aug;632(8027):1131-1136.

doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07829-8. Epub 2024 Jul 24.

Authors

Viola Krukenberg^#¹, Anthony J Kohtz^#², Zackary J Jay², Roland Hatzenpichler^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA. viola.krukenberg@montana.edu.
² Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
³ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA. roland.hatzenpichler@montana.edu.
⁴ Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA. roland.hatzenpichler@montana.edu.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 39048017
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07829-8

Abstract

Methanogenesis mediated by archaea is the main source of methane, a strong greenhouse gas, and thus is critical for understanding Earth's climate dynamics. Recently, genes encoding diverse methanogenesis pathways have been discovered in metagenome-assembled genomes affiliated with several archaeal phyla^1-7. However, all experimental studies on methanogens are at present restricted to cultured representatives of the Euryarchaeota. Here we show methanogenic growth by a member of the lineage Korarchaeia within the phylum Thermoproteota (TACK superphylum)^5-7. Following enrichment cultivation of 'Candidatus Methanodesulfokora washburnenis' strain LCB3, we used measurements of metabolic activity and isotope tracer conversion to demonstrate methanol reduction to methane using hydrogen as an electron donor. Analysis of the archaeon's circular genome and transcriptome revealed unique modifications in the energy conservation pathways linked to methanogenesis, including enzyme complexes involved in hydrogen and sulfur metabolism. The cultivation and characterization of this new group of archaea is critical for a deeper evaluation of the diversity, physiology and biochemistry of methanogens.

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Cited by

Genome reduction in novel, obligately methyl-reducing Methanosarcinales isolated from arthropod guts (Methanolapillus gen. nov. and Methanimicrococcus).
Protasov E, Reeh H, Liu P, Poehlein A, Platt K, Heimerl T, Hervé V, Daniel R, Brune A. Protasov E, et al. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2024 Aug 13;100(9):fiae111. doi: 10.1093/femsec/fiae111. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2024. PMID: 39108084 Free PMC article.

References

1. Seitz, K. W. et al. Asgard archaea capable of anaerobic hydrocarbon cycling. Nat. Commun. 10, 1822 (2019). - PubMed - PMC
1. Evans, P. et al. Methane metabolism in the archaeal phylum Bathyarchaeota revealed by genome-centric metagenomics. Science 350, 434–438 (2015). - PubMed
1. Vanwonterghem, I. et al. Methylotrophic methanogenesis discovered in the archaeal phylum Verstraetearchaeota. Nat. Microbiol. 1, 16170 (2016). - PubMed
1. Hua, Z. S. et al. Insights into the ecological roles and evolution of methyl-coenzyme M reductase-containing hot spring Archaea. Nat. Commun. 10, 4574 (2019). - PubMed - PMC
1. Borrel, G. et al. Wide diversity of methane and short-chain alkane metabolisms in uncultured archaea. Nat. Microbiol. 4, 603–613 (2019). - PubMed - PMC

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[1] Seitz, K. W. et al. Asgard archaea capable of anaerobic hydrocarbon cycling. Nat. Commun. 10, 1822 (2019). - PubMed - PMC

[2] Seitz, K. W. et al. Asgard archaea capable of anaerobic hydrocarbon cycling. Nat. Commun. 10, 1822 (2019). - PubMed - PMC

[3] Evans, P. et al. Methane metabolism in the archaeal phylum Bathyarchaeota revealed by genome-centric metagenomics. Science 350, 434–438 (2015). - PubMed

[4] Evans, P. et al. Methane metabolism in the archaeal phylum Bathyarchaeota revealed by genome-centric metagenomics. Science 350, 434–438 (2015). - PubMed

[5] Vanwonterghem, I. et al. Methylotrophic methanogenesis discovered in the archaeal phylum Verstraetearchaeota. Nat. Microbiol. 1, 16170 (2016). - PubMed

[6] Vanwonterghem, I. et al. Methylotrophic methanogenesis discovered in the archaeal phylum Verstraetearchaeota. Nat. Microbiol. 1, 16170 (2016). - PubMed

[7] Hua, Z. S. et al. Insights into the ecological roles and evolution of methyl-coenzyme M reductase-containing hot spring Archaea. Nat. Commun. 10, 4574 (2019). - PubMed - PMC

[8] Hua, Z. S. et al. Insights into the ecological roles and evolution of methyl-coenzyme M reductase-containing hot spring Archaea. Nat. Commun. 10, 4574 (2019). - PubMed - PMC

[9] Borrel, G. et al. Wide diversity of methane and short-chain alkane metabolisms in uncultured archaea. Nat. Microbiol. 4, 603–613 (2019). - PubMed - PMC

[10] Borrel, G. et al. Wide diversity of methane and short-chain alkane metabolisms in uncultured archaea. Nat. Microbiol. 4, 603–613 (2019). - PubMed - PMC

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Methyl-reducing methanogenesis by a thermophilic culture of Korarchaeia

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Methyl-reducing methanogenesis by a thermophilic culture of Korarchaeia

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