Purification of a cytochrome b containing H2:heterodisulfide oxidoreductase complex from membranes of Methanosarcina barkeri

Pathways of Iron and Sulfur Acquisition, Cofactor Assembly, Destination, and Storage in Diverse Archaeal Methanogens and Alkanotrophs

Archaeal methanogens, methanotrophs, and alkanotrophs have a high demand for iron (Fe) and sulfur (S); however, little is known of how they acquire, traffic, deploy, and store these elements. Here, we examined the distribution of homologs of proteins mediating key steps in Fe/S metabolism in model microorganisms, including iron(II) sensing/uptake (FeoAB), sulfide extraction from cysteine (SufS), and the biosynthesis of iron-sulfur [Fe-S] clusters (SufBCDE), siroheme (Pch2 dehydrogenase), protoheme (AhbABCD), cytochrome c (Cyt c) (CcmCF), and iron storage/detoxification (Bfr, FtrA, and IssA), among 326 publicly available, complete or metagenome-assembled genomes of archaeal methanogens/methanotrophs/alkanotrophs. The results indicate several prevalent but nonuniversal features, including FeoB, SufBC, and the biosynthetic apparatus for the basic tetrapyrrole scaffold, as well as its siroheme (and F₄₃₀) derivatives. However, several early-diverging genomes lacked SufS and pathways to synthesize and deploy heme. Genomes encoding complete versus incomplete heme biosynthetic pathways exhibited equivalent prevalences of [Fe-S] cluster binding proteins, suggesting an expansion of catalytic capabilities rather than substitution of heme for [Fe-S] in the former group. Several strains with heme binding proteins lacked heme biosynthesis capabilities, while other strains with siroheme biosynthesis capability lacked homologs of known siroheme binding proteins, indicating heme auxotrophy and unknown siroheme biochemistry, respectively. While ferritin proteins involved in ferric oxide storage were widespread, those involved in storing Fe as thioferrate were unevenly distributed. Collectively, the results suggest that differences in the mechanisms of Fe and S acquisition, deployment, and storage have accompanied the diversification of methanogens/methanotrophs/alkanotrophs, possibly in response to differential availability of these elements as these organisms evolved.

IMPORTANCE Archaeal methanogens, methanotrophs, and alkanotrophs, argued to be among the most ancient forms of life, have a high demand for iron (Fe) and sulfur (S) for cofactor biosynthesis, among other uses. Here, using comparative bioinformatic approaches applied to 326 genomes, we show that major differences in Fe/S acquisition, trafficking, deployment, and storage exist in this group. Variation in these characters was generally congruent with the phylogenetic placement of these genomes, indicating that variation in Fe/S usage and deployment has contributed to the diversification and ecology of these organisms. However, incongruency was observed among the distribution of cofactor biosynthesis pathways and known protein destinations for those cofactors, suggesting auxotrophy or yet-to-be-discovered pathways for cofactor biosynthesis.

Investigation of central energy metabolism-related protein complexes of ANME-2d methanotrophic archaea by complexome profiling

The anaerobic oxidation of methane is important for mitigating emissions of this potent greenhouse gas to the atmosphere and is mediated by anaerobic methanotrophic archaea. In a 'Candidatus Methanoperedens BLZ2' enrichment culture used in this study, methane is oxidized to CO₂ with nitrate being the terminal electron acceptor of an anaerobic respiratory chain. Energy conservation mechanisms of anaerobic methanotrophs have mostly been studied at metagenomic level and hardly any protein data is available at this point. To close this gap, we used complexome profiling to investigate the presence and subunit composition of protein complexes involved in energy conservation processes. All enzyme complexes and their subunit composition involved in reverse methanogenesis were identified. The membrane-bound enzymes of the respiratory chain, such as F₄₂₀H₂:quinone oxidoreductase, membrane-bound heterodisulfide reductase, nitrate reductases and Rieske cytochrome bc₁ complex were all detected. Additional or putative subunits such as an octaheme subunit as part of the Rieske cytochrome bc₁ complex were discovered that will be interesting targets for future studies. Furthermore, several soluble proteins were identified, which are potentially involved in oxidation of reduced ferredoxin produced during reverse methanogenesis leading to formation of small organic molecules. Taken together these findings provide an updated, refined picture of the energy metabolism of the environmentally important group of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea.

Genomic Evidence for Formate Metabolism by Chloroflexi as the Key to Unlocking Deep Carbon in Lost City Microbial Ecosystems

Primitive forms of life may have originated around hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ancient ocean. The Lost City hydrothermal vent field, fueled by just rock and water, provides an analog for not only primitive ecosystems but also potential extraterrestrial rock-powered ecosystems. The microscopic life covering the towering chimney structures at the Lost City has been previously documented, yet little is known about the carbon cycling in this ecosystem. These results provide a better understanding of how carbon from the deep subsurface can fuel rich microbial ecosystems on the seafloor.

The Lost City hydrothermal field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge supports dense microbial life on the lofty calcium carbonate chimney structures. The vent field is fueled by chemical reactions between the ultramafic rock under the chimneys and ambient seawater. These serpentinization reactions provide reducing power (as hydrogen gas) and organic compounds that can serve as microbial food; the most abundant of these are methane and formate. Previous studies have characterized the interior of the chimneys as a single-species biofilm inhabited by the Lost City Methanosarcinales, but they also indicated that this methanogen is unable to metabolize formate. The new metagenomic results presented here indicate that carbon cycling in these Lost City chimney biofilms could depend on the metabolism of formate by Chloroflexi populations. Additionally, we present evidence for metabolically diverse, formate-utilizing Sulfurovum populations and new genomic and phylogenetic insights into the unique Lost City Methanosarcinales.

IMPORTANCE Primitive forms of life may have originated around hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ancient ocean. The Lost City hydrothermal vent field, fueled by just rock and water, provides an analog for not only primitive ecosystems but also potential extraterrestrial rock-powered ecosystems. The microscopic life covering the towering chimney structures at the Lost City has been previously documented, yet little is known about the carbon cycling in this ecosystem. These results provide a better understanding of how carbon from the deep subsurface can fuel rich microbial ecosystems on the seafloor.

A Membrane-Bound Cytochrome Enables Methanosarcina acetivorans To Conserve Energy from Extracellular Electron Transfer

The discovery of a methanogen that can conserve energy to support growth solely from the oxidation of organic carbon coupled to the reduction of an extracellular electron acceptor expands the possible environments in which methanogens might thrive. The potential importance of c-type cytochromes for extracellular electron transfer to syntrophic bacterial partners and/or Fe(III) minerals in some Archaea was previously proposed, but these studies with Methanosarcina acetivorans provide the first genetic evidence for cytochrome-based extracellular electron transfer in Archaea. The results suggest parallels with Gram-negative bacteria, such as Shewanella and Geobacter species, in which multiheme outer-surface c-type cytochromes are an essential component for electrical communication with the extracellular environment. M. acetivorans offers an unprecedented opportunity to study mechanisms for energy conservation from the anaerobic oxidation of one-carbon organic compounds coupled to extracellular electron transfer in Archaea with implications not only for methanogens but possibly also for Archaea that anaerobically oxidize methane.

Extracellular electron exchange in Methanosarcina species and closely related Archaea plays an important role in the global carbon cycle and enhances the speed and stability of anaerobic digestion by facilitating efficient syntrophic interactions. Here, we grew Methanosarcina acetivorans with methanol provided as the electron donor and the humic analogue, anthraquione-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS), provided as the electron acceptor when methane production was inhibited with bromoethanesulfonate. AQDS was reduced with simultaneous methane production in the absence of bromoethanesulfonate. Transcriptomics revealed that expression of the gene for the transmembrane, multiheme, c-type cytochrome MmcA was higher in AQDS-respiring cells than in cells performing methylotrophic methanogenesis. A strain in which the gene for MmcA was deleted failed to grow via AQDS reduction but grew with the conversion of methanol or acetate to methane, suggesting that MmcA has a specialized role as a conduit for extracellular electron transfer. Enhanced expression of genes for methanol conversion to methyl-coenzyme M and the Rnf complex suggested that methanol is oxidized to carbon dioxide in AQDS-respiring cells through a pathway that is similar to methyl-coenzyme M oxidation in methanogenic cells. However, during AQDS respiration the Rnf complex and reduced methanophenazine probably transfer electrons to MmcA, which functions as the terminal reductase for AQDS reduction. Extracellular electron transfer may enable the survival of methanogens in dynamic environments in which oxidized humic substances and Fe(III) oxides are intermittently available. The availability of tools for genetic manipulation of M. acetivorans makes it an excellent model microbe for evaluating c-type cytochrome-dependent extracellular electron transfer in Archaea.

Physiological Evidence for Isopotential Tunneling in the Electron Transport Chain of Methane-Producing Archaea

Many, but not all, organisms use quinones to conserve energy in their electron transport chains. Fermentative bacteria and methane-producing archaea (methanogens) do not produce quinones but have devised other ways to generate ATP. Methanophenazine (MPh) is a unique membrane electron carrier found in Methanosarcina species that plays the same role as quinones in the electron transport chain. To extend the analogy between quinones and MPh, we compared the MPh pool sizes between two well-studied Methanosarcina species, Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A and Methanosarcina barkeri Fusaro, to the quinone pool size in the bacterium Escherichia coli We found the quantity of MPh per cell increases as cultures transition from exponential growth to stationary phase, and absolute quantities of MPh were 3-fold higher in M. acetivorans than in M. barkeri The concentration of MPh suggests the cell membrane of M. acetivorans, but not of M. barkeri, is electrically quantized as if it were a single conductive metal sheet and near optimal for rate of electron transport. Similarly, stationary (but not exponentially growing) E. coli cells also have electrically quantized membranes on the basis of quinone content. Consistent with our hypothesis, we demonstrated that the exogenous addition of phenazine increases the growth rate of M. barkeri three times that of M. acetivorans Our work suggests electron flux through MPh is naturally higher in M. acetivorans than in M. barkeri and that hydrogen cycling is less efficient at conserving energy than scalar proton translocation using MPh.IMPORTANCE Can we grow more from less? The ability to optimize and manipulate metabolic efficiency in cells is the difference between commercially viable and nonviable renewable technologies. Much can be learned from methane-producing archaea (methanogens) which evolved a successful metabolic lifestyle under extreme thermodynamic constraints. Methanogens use highly efficient electron transport systems and supramolecular complexes to optimize electron and carbon flow to control biomass synthesis and the production of methane. Worldwide, methanogens are used to generate renewable methane for heat, electricity, and transportation. Our observations suggest Methanosarcina acetivorans, but not Methanosarcina barkeri, has electrically quantized membranes. Escherichia coli, a model facultative anaerobe, has optimal electron transport at the stationary phase but not during exponential growth. This study also suggests the metabolic efficiency of bacteria and archaea can be improved using exogenously supplied lipophilic electron carriers. The enhancement of methanogen electron transport through methanophenazine has the potential to increase renewable methane production at an industrial scale.

Exploring Hydrogenotrophic Methanogenesis: a Genome Scale Metabolic Reconstruction of Methanococcus maripaludis

Hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis occurs in multiple environments, ranging from the intestinal tracts of animals to anaerobic sediments and hot springs. Energy conservation in hydrogenotrophic methanogens was long a mystery; only within the last decade was it reported that net energy conservation for growth depends on electron bifurcation. In this work, we focus on Methanococcus maripaludis, a well-studied hydrogenotrophic marine methanogen. To better understand hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis and compare it with methylotrophic methanogenesis that utilizes oxidative phosphorylation rather than electron bifurcation, we have built iMR539, a genome scale metabolic reconstruction that accounts for 539 of the 1,722 protein-coding genes of M. maripaludis strain S2. Our reconstructed metabolic network uses recent literature to not only represent the central electron bifurcation reaction but also incorporate vital biosynthesis and assimilation pathways, including unique cofactor and coenzyme syntheses. We show that our model accurately predicts experimental growth and gene knockout data, with 93% accuracy and a Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.78. Furthermore, we use our metabolic network reconstruction to probe the implications of electron bifurcation by showing its essentiality, as well as investigating the infeasibility of aceticlastic methanogenesis in the network. Additionally, we demonstrate a method of applying thermodynamic constraints to a metabolic model to quickly estimate overall free-energy changes between what comes in and out of the cell. Finally, we describe a novel reconstruction-specific computational toolbox we created to improve usability. Together, our results provide a computational network for exploring hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis and confirm the importance of electron bifurcation in this process.

IMPORTANCE

Understanding and applying hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis is a promising avenue for developing new bioenergy technologies around methane gas. Although a significant portion of biological methane is generated through this environmentally ubiquitous pathway, existing methanogen models portray the more traditional energy conservation mechanisms that are found in other methanogens. We have constructed a genome scale metabolic network of Methanococcus maripaludis that explicitly accounts for all major reactions involved in hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Our reconstruction demonstrates the importance of electron bifurcation in central metabolism, providing both a window into hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis and a hypothesis-generating platform to fuel metabolic engineering efforts.

My Lifelong Passion for Biochemistry and Anaerobic Microorganisms

Early parental influence led me first to medical school, but after developing a passion for biochemistry and sensing the need for a deeper foundation, I changed to chemistry. During breaks between semesters, I worked in various biochemistry labs to acquire a feeling for the different areas of investigation. The scientific puzzle that fascinated me most was the metabolism of the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium kluyveri, which I took on in 1965 in Karl Decker's lab in Freiburg, Germany. I quickly realized that little was known about the biochemistry of strict anaerobes such as clostridia, methanogens, acetogens, and sulfate-reducing bacteria and that these were ideal model organisms to study fundamental questions of energy conservation, CO2 fixation, and the evolution of metabolic pathways. My passion for anaerobes was born then and is unabated even after 50 years of study.

Acetate Metabolism in Anaerobes from the Domain Archaea

Acetate and acetyl-CoA play fundamental roles in all of biology, including anaerobic prokaryotes from the domains Bacteria and Archaea, which compose an estimated quarter of all living protoplasm in Earth's biosphere. Anaerobes from the domain Archaea contribute to the global carbon cycle by metabolizing acetate as a growth substrate or product. They are components of anaerobic microbial food chains converting complex organic matter to methane, and many fix CO2 into cell material via synthesis of acetyl-CoA. They are found in a diversity of ecological habitats ranging from the digestive tracts of insects to deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and synthesize a plethora of novel enzymes with biotechnological potential. Ecological investigations suggest that still more acetate-metabolizing species with novel properties await discovery.

Quantification of methanogenic heterodisulfide reductase activity in biogas sludge

Methanogenic archaea are essential for the production of methane in biogas plants. Here we present enzymatic test systems for the analysis of the metabolic activity of methanogens based on the heterodisulfide reductase reaction. The first rapid test shows that heterodisulfide reductase can be detected in 1 g of biogas sludge after sonication and centrifugation. The resulting cell lysate used reduced methylviologen for heterodisulfide reduction, a reaction that is specifically catalyzed by methanogenic heterodisulfide reductase. In the second test cell lysate from 60 g of biogas sludge was separated by ultracentrifugation. Both, cytoplasmic membrane and cytoplasmic fractions revealed heterodisulfide reductase activity, indicating the presence of hydrogenotrophic and aceticlastic methanogens, respectively.

Bioenergetics and anaerobic respiratory chains of aceticlastic methanogens

Methane-forming archaea are strictly anaerobic microbes and are essential for global carbon fluxes since they perform the terminal step in breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Major part of methane produced in nature derives from the methyl group of acetate. Only members of the genera Methanosarcina and Methanosaeta are able to use this substrate for methane formation and growth. Since the free energy change coupled to methanogenesis from acetate is only -36kJ/mol CH4, aceticlastic methanogens developed efficient energy-conserving systems to handle this thermodynamic limitation. The membrane bound electron transport system of aceticlastic methanogens is a complex branched respiratory chain that can accept electrons from hydrogen, reduced coenzyme F420 or reduced ferredoxin. The terminal electron acceptor of this anaerobic respiration is a mixed disulfide composed of coenzyme M and coenzyme B. Reduced ferredoxin has an important function under aceticlastic growth conditions and novel and well-established membrane complexes oxidizing ferredoxin will be discussed in depth. Membrane bound electron transport is connected to energy conservation by proton or sodium ion translocating enzymes (F420H2 dehydrogenase, Rnf complex, Ech hydrogenase, methanophenazine-reducing hydrogenase and heterodisulfide reductase). The resulting electrochemical ion gradient constitutes the driving force for adenosine triphosphate synthesis. Methanogenesis, electron transport, and the structure of key enzymes are discussed in this review leading to a concept of how aceticlastic methanogens make a living. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 18th European Bioenergetic Conference.

Hemoproteins in dissimilatory sulfate- and sulfur-reducing prokaryotes

Dissimilatory sulfate and sulfur reduction evolved billions of years ago and while the bacteria and archaea that use this unique metabolism employ a variety of electron donors, H(2) is most commonly used as the energy source. These prokaryotes use multiheme c-type proteins to shuttle electrons from electron donors, and electron transport complexes presumed to contain b-type hemoproteins contribute to proton charging of the membrane. Numerous sulfate and sulfur reducers use an alternate pathway for heme synthesis and, frequently, uniquely specific axial ligands are used to secure c-type heme to the protein. This review presents some of the types and functional activities of hemoproteins involved in these two dissimilatory reduction pathways.

How to make a living by exhaling methane

Methane produced in the biosphere is derived from two major pathways. Conversion of the methyl group of acetate to CH(4) in the aceticlastic pathway accounts for at least two-thirds, and reduction of CO(2) with electrons derived from H(2), formate, or CO accounts for approximately one-third. Although both pathways have terminal steps in common, they diverge considerably in the initial steps and energy conservation mechanisms. Steps and enzymes unique to the CO(2) reduction pathway are confined to methanogens and the domain Archaea. On the other hand, steps and enzymes unique to the aceticlastic pathway are widely distributed in the domain Bacteria, the understanding of which has contributed to a broader understanding of prokaryotic biology.

Biochemical characterization of individual components of the Allochromatium vinosum DsrMKJOP transmembrane complex aids understanding of complex function in vivo

The DsrMKJOP transmembrane complex has a most important function in dissimilatory sulfur metabolism and consists of cytoplasmic, periplasmic, and membrane integral proteins carrying FeS centers and b- and c-type cytochromes as cofactors. In this study, the complex was isolated from the purple sulfur bacterium Allochromatium vinosum and individual components were characterized as recombinant proteins. The two integral membrane proteins DsrM and DsrP were successfully produced in Escherichia coli C43(DE3) and C41(DE3), respectively. DsrM was identified as a diheme cytochrome b, and the two hemes were found to be in low-spin state. Their midpoint redox potentials were determined to be +60 and +110 mV. Although no hemes were predicted for DsrP, it was also clearly identified as a b-type cytochrome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that heme binding has been experimentally proven for a member of the NrfD protein family. Both cytochromes were partly reduced after addition of a menaquinol analogue, suggesting interaction with quinones in vivo. DsrO and DsrK were both experimentally proven to be FeS-containing proteins. In addition, DsrK was shown to be membrane associated, and we propose a monotopic membrane anchoring for this protein. Coelution assays provide support for the proposed interaction of DsrK with the soluble cytoplasmic protein DsrC, which might be its substrate. A model for the function of DsrMKJOP in the purple sulfur bacterium A. vinosum is presented.

Methanogenesis in marine sediments

The anaerobic conversion of complex organic matter to CH(4) is an essential link in the global carbon cycle. In freshwater anaerobic environments, the organic matter is decomposed to CH(4) and CO(2) by a microbial food chain that terminates with methanogens that produce methane primarily by reduction of the methyl group of acetate and also reduction of CO(2). The process also occurs in marine environments, particularly those receiving large loads of organic matter, such as coastal sediments. The great majority of research on methanogens has focused on marine and freshwater CO(2)-reducing species, and freshwater acetate-utilizing species. Recent molecular, biochemical, bioinformatic, proteomic, and microarray analyses of the marine isolate Methanosarcina acetivorans has revealed that the pathway for acetate conversion to methane differs significantly from that in freshwater methanogens. Similar experimental approaches have also revealed striking contrasts with freshwater species for the pathway of CO-dependent CO(2) reduction to methane by M. acetivorans. The differences in both pathways reflect an adaptation by M. acetivorans to the marine environment.

Methanogenic archaea: ecologically relevant differences in energy conservation

Most methanogenic archaea can reduce CO(2) with H(2) to methane, and it is generally assumed that the reactions and mechanisms of energy conservation that are involved are largely the same in all methanogens. However, this does not take into account the fact that methanogens with cytochromes have considerably higher growth yields and threshold concentrations for H(2) than methanogens without cytochromes. These and other differences can be explained by the proposal outlined in this Review that in methanogens with cytochromes, the first and last steps in methanogenesis from CO(2) are coupled chemiosmotically, whereas in methanogens without cytochromes, these steps are energetically coupled by a cytoplasmic enzyme complex that mediates flavin-based electron bifurcation.

An unconventional pathway for reduction of CO2 to methane in CO-grown Methanosarcina acetivorans revealed by proteomics

Methanosarcina acetivorans produces acetate, formate, and methane when cultured with CO as the growth substrate [Rother M, Metcalf WW (2004) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101:], which suggests novel features of CO metabolism. Here we present a genome-wide proteomic approach to identify and quantify proteins differentially abundant in response to growth on CO versus methanol or acetate. The results indicate that oxidation of CO to CO2 supplies electrons for reduction of CO2 to a methyl group by steps and enzymes of the pathway for CO2 reduction determined for other methane-producing species. However, proteomic and quantitative RT-PCR results suggest that reduction of the methyl group to methane involves novel methyltransferases and a coenzyme F420H2:heterodisulfide oxidoreductase system that generates a proton gradient for ATP synthesis not previously described for pathways reducing CO2 to methane. Biochemical assays support a role for the oxidoreductase, and transcriptional mapping identified an unusual operon structure encoding the oxidoreductase. The proteomic results further indicate that acetate is synthesized from the methyl group and CO by a reversal of initial steps in the pathway for conversion of acetate to methane that yields ATP by substrate level phosphorylation. The results indicate that M. acetivorans utilizes a pathway distinct from all known CO2 reduction pathways for methane formation that reflects an adaptation to the marine environment. Finally, the pathway supports the basis for a recently proposed primitive CO-dependent energy-conservation cycle that drove and directed the early evolution of life on Earth.

Electron transport in the pathway of acetate conversion to methane in the marine archaeon Methanosarcina acetivorans

A liquid chromatography-hybrid linear ion trap-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry approach was used to determine the differential abundance of proteins in acetate-grown cells compared to that of proteins in methanol-grown cells of the marine isolate Methanosarcina acetivorans metabolically labeled with 14N versus 15N. The 246 differentially abundant proteins in M. acetivorans were compared with the previously reported 240 differentially expressed genes of the freshwater isolate Methanosarcina mazei determined by transcriptional profiling of acetate-grown cells compared to methanol-grown cells. Profound differences were revealed for proteins involved in electron transport and energy conservation. Compared to methanol-grown cells, acetate-grown M. acetivorans synthesized greater amounts of subunits encoded in an eight-gene transcriptional unit homologous to operons encoding the ion-translocating Rnf electron transport complex previously characterized from the Bacteria domain. Combined with sequence and physiological analyses, these results suggest that M. acetivorans replaces the H2-evolving Ech hydrogenase complex of freshwater Methanosarcina species with the Rnf complex, which generates a transmembrane ion gradient for ATP synthesis. Compared to methanol-grown cells, acetate-grown M. acetivorans synthesized a greater abundance of proteins encoded in a seven-gene transcriptional unit annotated for the Mrp complex previously reported to function as a sodium/proton antiporter in the Bacteria domain. The differences reported here between M. acetivorans and M. mazei can be attributed to an adaptation of M. acetivorans to the marine environment.

Catalysis by methyl-coenzyme M reductase: a theoretical study for heterodisulfide product formation

Hybrid density functional theory has been used to investigate the catalytic mechanism of methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR), an essential enzyme in methanogenesis. In a previous study of methane formation, a scheme was suggested involving oxidation of Ni(I) in the starting square-planar coordination to the high-spin Ni(II) form in the CoM-S-Ni(II)F(430) octahedral intermediate. The methyl radical, concomitantly released by methyl-coenzyme M (CoM), is rapidly quenched by hydrogen atom transfer from the coenzyme B (CoB) thiol group, yielding methane as the first product of the reaction. The present investigation primarily concerns the second and final step of the reaction: oxidation of CoB and CoM to the CoB-S-S-CoM heterodisulfide product and reduction of nickel back to the Ni(I) square-planar form. The activation energy for the second step is found to be around 10 kcal/mol, implying that the first step of methane formation with an activation energy of 20 kcal/mol should be rate-limiting. An oxygen of the Gln147 residue, occupying the rear axial position in the oxidized Ni(II) state, is shown to stabilize the intermediate by 6 kcal/mol, thereby slightly decreasing the barrier for the preceding rate-limiting transition state. The mechanism suggested is discussed in the context of available experimental data. An analysis of the flexibility of the F(430) cofactor during the reaction cycle is also given.

The unique biochemistry of methanogenesis

Methanogenic archaea have an unusual type of metabolism because they use H2 + CO2, formate, methylated C1 compounds, or acetate as energy and carbon sources for growth. The methanogens produce methane as the major end product of their metabolism in a unique energy-generating process. The organisms received much attention because they catalyze the terminal step in the anaerobic breakdown of organic matter under sulfate-limiting conditions and are essential for both the recycling of carbon compounds and the maintenance of the global carbon flux on Earth. Furthermore, methane is an important greenhouse gas that directly contributes to climate changes and global warming. Hence, the understanding of the biochemical processes leading to methane formation are of major interest. This review focuses on the metabolic pathways of methanogenesis that are rather unique and involve a number of unusual enzymes and coenzymes. It will be shown how the previously mentioned substrates are converted to CH4 via the CO2-reducing, methylotrophic, or aceticlastic pathway. All catabolic processes finally lead to the formation of a mixed disulfide from coenzyme M and coenzyme B that functions as an electron acceptor of certain anaerobic respiratory chains. Molecular hydrogen, reduced coenzyme F420, or reduced ferredoxin are used as electron donors. The redox reactions as catalyzed by the membrane-bound electron transport chains are coupled to proton translocation across the cytoplasmic membrane. The resulting electrochemical proton gradient is the driving force for ATP synthesis as catalyzed by an A1A0-type ATP synthase. Other energy-transducing enzymes involved in methanogenesis are the membrane-integral methyltransferase and the formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase complex. The former enzyme is a unique, reversible sodium ion pump that couples methyl-group transfer with the transport of Na+ across the membrane. The formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase is a reversible ion pump that catalyzes formylation and deformylation of methanofuran. Furthermore, the review addresses questions related to the biochemical and genetic characteristics of the energy-transducing enzymes and to the mechanisms of ion translocation.

A mechanism from quantum chemical studies for methane formation in methanogenesis

The mechanism for methane formation in methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) has been investigated using the B3LYP hybrid density functional method and chemical models consisting of 107 atoms. The experimental X-ray crystal structure of the enzyme in the inactive MCR(ox1)(-)(silent) state was used to set up the initial model structure. The calculations suggest a mechanism not previously proposed, in which the most remarkable feature is the formation of an essentially free methyl radical at the transition state. The reaction cycle suggested starts from a Michaelis complex with CoB and methyl-CoM coenzymes bound and with a squareplanar coordination of the Ni(I) center in the tetrapyrrole F(430) prosthetic group. In the rate-limiting step the methyl radical is released from methyl-CoM, induced by the attack of Ni(I) on the methyl-CoM thioether sulfur. In this step, the metal center is oxidized from Ni(I) to Ni(II). The resulting methyl radical is rapidly quenched by hydrogen-atom transfer from the CoB thiol group, yielding the methane molecule and the CoB radical. The estimated activation energy is around 20 kcal/mol, which includes a significant contribution from entropy due to the formation of the free methyl. The mechanism implies an inversion of configuration at the reactive carbon. The size of the inversion barrier is used to explain the fact that CF(3)-S-CoM is an inactive substrate. Heterodisulfide CoB-S-S-CoM formation is proposed in the final step in which nickel is reduced back to Ni(I). The suggested mechanism agrees well with experimental observations.

Bioenergetics of the Archaea

In the late 1970s, on the basis of rRNA phylogeny, Archaea (archaebacteria) was identified as a distinct domain of life besides Bacteria (eubacteria) and Eucarya. Though forming a separate domain, Archaea display an enormous diversity of lifestyles and metabolic capabilities. Many archaeal species are adapted to extreme environments with respect to salinity, temperatures around the boiling point of water, and/or extremely alkaline or acidic pH. This has posed the challenge of studying the molecular and mechanistic bases on which these organisms can cope with such adverse conditions. This review considers our cumulative knowledge on archaeal mechanisms of primary energy conservation, in relationship to those of bacteria and eucarya. Although the universal principle of chemiosmotic energy conservation also holds for Archaea, distinct features have been discovered with respect to novel ion-transducing, membrane-residing protein complexes and the use of novel cofactors in bioenergetics of methanogenesis. From aerobically respiring Archaea, unusual electron-transporting supercomplexes could be isolated and functionally resolved, and a proposal on the organization of archaeal electron transport chains has been presented. The unique functions of archaeal rhodopsins as sensory systems and as proton or chloride pumps have been elucidated on the basis of recent structural information on the atomic scale. Whereas components of methanogenesis and of phototrophic energy transduction in halobacteria appear to be unique to Archaea, respiratory complexes and the ATP synthase exhibit some chimeric features with respect to their evolutionary origin. Nevertheless, archaeal ATP synthases are to be considered distinct members of this family of secondary energy transducers. A major challenge to future investigations is the development of archaeal genetic transformation systems, in order to gain access to the regulation of bioenergetic systems and to overproducers of archaeal membrane proteins as a prerequisite for their crystallization.

Energy conservation by the H2:heterodisulfide oxidoreductase from Methanosarcina mazei Gö1: identification of two proton-translocating segments

The membrane-bound H2:heterodisulfide oxidoreductase system of the methanogenic archaeon Methanosarcina mazei Gö1 catalyzed the H2-dependent reduction of 2-hydroxyphenazine and the dihydro-2-hydroxyphenazine-dependent reduction of the heterodisulfide of HS-CoM and HS-CoB (CoM-S-S-CoB). Washed inverted vesicles of this organism were found to couple both processes with the transfer of protons across the cytoplasmic membrane. The maximal H+/2e- ratio was 0.9 for each reaction. The electrochemical proton gradient (DeltamicroH+) thereby generated was shown to drive ATP synthesis from ADP plus Pi, exhibiting stoichiometries of 0.25 ATP synthesized per two electrons transported for both partial reactions. ATP synthesis and the generation of DeltamicroH+ were abolished by the uncoupler 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidenemalononitrile (SF 6847). The ATP synthase inhibitor N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide did not affect H+ translocation but led to an almost complete inhibition of ATP synthesis and decreased the electron transport rates. The latter effect was relieved by the addition of SF 6847. Thus, the energy-conserving systems showed a stringent coupling which resembles the phenomenon of respiratory control. The results indicate that two different proton-translocating segments are present in the H2:heterodisulfide oxidoreductase system; the first involves the 2-hydroxyphenazine-dependent hydrogenase, and the second involves the heterodisulfide reductase.

Biochemistry of methanogenesis: a tribute to Marjory Stephenson. 1998 Marjory Stephenson Prize Lecture

Max-Planck-Institut für terrestrische Mikrobiologie, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße, D-35043 Marburg, and Laboratorium für Mikrobiologie, Fachbereich Biologie, Philipps-Universität, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße, D-35032 Marburg, Germany

In 1933, Stephenson & Stickland (1933a) published that they had isolated from river mud, by the single cell technique, a methanogenic organism capable of growth in an inorganic medium with formate as the sole carbon source.

Purification and properties of the heme- and iron-sulfur-containing heterodisulfide reductase from Methanosarcina thermophila

The heterodisulfide reductase (HDR) from Methanosarcina thermophila was purified to homogeneity from acetate-grown cells. In the absence of detergents, HDR consisted of an eight-protein complex with hydrogenase activity. However, when HDR was purified in the presence of 0.6% Triton X-100, a two-subunit (53 and 27 kDa) high specific activity ( approximately 200 units mg-1) enzyme was obtained that lacked hydrogenase activity. Sedimentation equilibrium experiments demonstrated that HDR has a molecular mass of 206 kDa and a high partial specific volume (0.9 cm3/g), indicating that the purified protein contains a significant amount of bound lipid. Like the HDR from Methanosarcina barkeri [Kunkel, A., Vaupel, M., Heim, S., Thauer, R. K., and Hedderich, R. (1997) Eur. J. Biochem. 244, 226-234], it was found to contain two discrete b-type hemes in the small subunit and two distinct [Fe4S4]2+/1+ clusters in the large subunit. One heme is high-spin and has a high midpoint potential (-23 mV), whereas the other heme apparently is low-spin and exhibits a relatively low midpoint potential (-180 mV). Only the high-spin heme binds CO. The midpoint potentials for the two clusters are -100 and -400 mV. In the fully reduced state, a complicated EPR spectrum with g values of 2.03, 1.97, 1.92, and 1.88 was observed. This spectrum resembles that of 8Fe ferredoxins in the fully reduced state, indicating that the two clusters in HDR are near enough to experience relatively strong dipolar interactions. Kinetic studies in which CO oxidation is coupled to heterodisulfide reduction strongly indicate that a membrane-associated compound is the direct electron donor to HDR. An electron-transfer pathway is presented that postulates a mechanism for coupling electron transport to proton translocation.

Isolation and characterization of methanophenazine and function of phenazines in membrane-bound electron transport of Methanosarcina mazei Gö1

A hydrophobic, redox-active component with a molecular mass of 538 Da was isolated from lyophilized membranes of Methanosarcina mazei Gö1 by extraction with isooctane. After purification on a high-performance liquid chromatography column, the chemical structure was analyzed by mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance studies. The component was called methanophenazine and represents a 2-hydroxyphenazine derivative which is connected via an ether bridge to a polyisoprenoid side chain. Since methanophenazine was almost insoluble in aqueous buffers, water-soluble phenazine derivatives were tested for their ability to interact with membrane-bound enzymes involved in electron transport and energy conservation. The purified F42OH2 dehydrogenase from M. mazei Gö1 showed highest activity with 2-hydroxyphenazine and 2-bromophenazine as electron acceptors when F420H2 was added. Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid and phenazine proved to be less effective. The Km values for 2-hydroxyphenazine and phenazine were 35 and 250 microM, respectively. 2-Hydroxyphenazine was also reduced by molecular hydrogen catalyzed by an F420-nonreactive hydrogenase which is present in washed membrane preparations. Furthermore, the membrane-bound heterodisulfide reductase was able to use reduced 2-hydroxyphenazine as an electron donor for the reduction of CoB-S-S-CoM. Considering all these results, it is reasonable to assume that methanophenazine plays an important role in vivo in membrane-bound electron transport of M. mazei Gö1.

Heterodisulfide reductase from methanol-grown cells of Methanosarcina barkeri is not a flavoenzyme

Heterodisulfide reductase from methanol-grown cells of Methanosarcina barkeri (MbHdrDE) is a membrane-bound enzyme composed of a 46-kDa subunit MbHdrD and a 23-kDa subunit MbHdrE. The enzyme has been shown to contain 0.6 mol heme and 20 mol Fe/S per mol heterodimer. In addition, substoichiometric amounts of FAD, thought to be an essential component of the active enzyme, were detected. We have now obtained preparations of active heterodisulfide reductase in high yields completely devoid of a flavin. Cloning and sequencing of the genes encoding MbHdrD and MbHdrE, which were found to form a transcription unit hdrED, revealed that both subunits also lack an FAD-binding motif. MbHdr thus differs from heterodisulifde reductase from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (MtHdr), which is a flavo iron-sulfur protein composed of the subunits MtHdrA (80 kDa), MtHdrB (36 kDa) and MtHdrC (21 kDa), the subunit HdrA harboring the flavin-binding site. Sequence comparisons revealed that the N-terminal third of MbHdrD, which contained two sequence motifs for [4Fe-4S] clusters, is similar to MtHdrC and that the C-terminal two thirds of MbHdrD are similar to MtHdrB. Thus, MbHdrD and MtHdrC are structurally equivalent subunits. MbHdrE shows sequence similarity to b-type cytochromes, in agreement with the finding that this subunit contains a heme. These and other results indicate that MbHdrD harbors the active site of heterodisulfide reduction and that a flavin is not involved in catalysis. Since MbHdrD contains only iron-sulfur clusters, a mechanism of disulfide reduction involving one electron rather than two electron-transfer reactions has to be considered such as operative in ferredoxin :thioredoxin reductases from chloroplasts and cyanobacteria.

Metabolic regulation in methanogenic archaea during growth on hydrogen and CO2

Methanogenic Archaea represent a unique group of micro-organisms in their ability to derive their energy for growth from the conversion of their substrates to methane. The common substrates are hydrogen and CO2. The energy obtained in the latter conversion is highly dependent on the hydrogen concentration which may dramatically vary in their natural habitats and under laboratory conditions. In this review the bio-energetic consequences of the variations in hydrogen supply will be investigated. It will be described how the organisms seem to be equipped as to their methanogenic apparatus to cope with extremes in hydrogen availability and how they could respond to hydrogen changes by the regulation of their metabolism.

Different structure and expression of the operons encoding the membrane-bound hydrogenases from Methanosarcina mazei Gö1

The expression of the vho and vht operons from Methanosarcina mazei Gö1, which each encode a membrane-bound hydrogenase and a cytochrome b, was analyzed under various growth conditions. Synthesis of both hydrogenases was induced at the level of transcription during methanogenesis from H2/CO2 or methanol. Transcripts of the vho operon were also detected when Ms. mazei Gö1 was grown on acetate, indicating that this operon is constitutively expressed. In contrast, mRNA from the vht operon was not found in acetate-grown cells. Downstream of the structural genes vhtG and vhtA and the cytochrome-b-encoding gene vhtC, an additional open reading frame (vhtD; 486 bp) was identified. vhtD is followed by six tandem repeats of an 11-bp sequence, which is probably a termination site of transcription. Northern blots revealed that vhtD is part of the vht operon. In the vho operon, a vhtD-like gene and a terminator composed of tandem repeats could not be identified. The physiological function of two genetically distinct, membrane-bound hydrogenases from Ms. mazei Gö1 is discussed.

Analysis of the vhoGAC and vhtGAC operons from Methanosarcina mazei strain Gö1, both encoding a membrane-bound hydrogenase and a cytochrome b

DNA encompassing the structural genes of two membrane-bound hydrogenases from Methanosarcina mazei Gö1 was cloned and sequenced. The genes, arranged in the order vhoG and vhoA as well as vhtG and vhtA, were identified as those encoding the small and the large subunits of the NiFe hydrogenases [Deppenmeier, U., Blaut, M., Schmidt, B. & Gottschalk, G. (1992) Arch. Microbiol. 157, 505-511]. Northern-blot analysis revealed that the structural genes formed part of two operons, both containing one additional open reading frame (vhoC and vhtC) which codes for a cytochrome b. This conclusion was drawn from the homology of the deduced N-terminal amino acid sequences of vhoC and vhtC and the N-terminus of a 27-kDa cytochrome isolated from Ms. mazei C16. VhoC and VhtC contain four tentative hydrophobic segments which might span the cytoplasmic membrane. Hydropathy plots suggest that His23 and His50 are involved in heme coordination. The comparison of the sequencing data of vhoG and vhtG with the experimentally determined N-terminus of the small subunit indicate the presence of a 48-amino-acid leader peptide in front of the polypeptides. VhoA and VhtA contained the conserved sequence DPCXXC in the C-terminal region, which excludes the presence of a selenocysteine residue in these hydrogenases. Promoter sequences were found upstream of vhoG and vhtG, respectively. Downstream of vhoC, a putative terminator sequence was identified. Alignments of the deduced amino acid sequences of the gene clusters vhoGAC and vhtGAC showed 92-97% identity. Only the C-termini of VhoC and VhtC were not similar.

Structural aspects and immunolocalization of the F420-reducing and non-F420-reducing hydrogenases from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum Marburg

The F420-reducing hydrogenase and the non-F420-reducing hydrogenase (EC 1.12.99.1.) were isolated from a crude extract of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum Marburg. Electron microscopy of the negatively stained F420-reducing hydrogenase revealed that the enzyme is a complex with a diameter of 15.6 nm. It consists of two ring-like, stacked, parallel layers each composed of three major protein masses arranged in rotational symmetry. Each of these masses appeared to be subdivided into smaller protein masses. Electron microscopy of negatively stained samples taken from intermediate steps of the purification process revealed the presence of enzyme particles bound to inside-out membrane vesicles. Linker particles of 10 to 20 kDa which mediate the attachment of the hydrogenase to the cytoplasmic membrane were seen. Immunogold labelling confirmed that the F420-reducing hydrogenase is a membrane-bound enzyme. Electron microscopy of the negatively stained purified non-F420-reducing hydrogenase revealed that the enzyme is composed of three subunits exhibiting different diameters (5, 4, and 2 to 3 nm). According to immunogold labelling experiments, approximately 70% of the non-F420-reducing hydrogenase protein molecules were located at the cell periphery; the remaining 30% were cytoplasmic. No linker particles were observed for this enzyme.

Characterization of a CO: heterodisulfide oxidoreductase system from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila

During the methanogenic fermentation of acetate by Methanosarcina thermophila, the CO dehydrogenase complex cleaves acetyl coenzyme A and oxidizes the carbonyl group (or CO) to CO2, followed by electron transfer to coenzyme M (CoM)-S-S-coenzyme B (CoB) and reduction of this heterodisulfide to HS-CoM and HS-CoB (A. P. Clements, R. H. White, and J. G. Ferry, Arch. Microbiol. 159:296-300, 1993). The majority of heterodisulfide reductase activity was present in the soluble protein fraction after French pressure cell lysis. A CO:CoM-S-S-CoB oxidoreductase system from acetate-grown cells was reconstituted with purified CO dehydrogenase enzyme complex, ferredoxin, membranes, and partially purified heterodisulfide reductase. Coenzyme F420 (F420) was not required, and CO:F420 oxidoreductase activity was not detected in cell extracts. The membranes contained cytochrome b that was reduced with CO and oxidized with CoM-S-S-CoB. The results suggest that a novel CoM-S-S-CoB reducing system operates during acetate conversion to CH4 and CO2. In this system, ferredoxin transfers electrons from the CO dehydrogenase complex to membrane-bound electron carriers, including cytochrome b, that are required for electron transfer to the heterodisulfide reductase. The cytochrome b was purified from solubilized membrane proteins in a complex with six other polypeptides. The cytochrome was not reduced when the complex was incubated with H2 or CO, and H2 uptake hydrogenase activity was not detected; however, the addition of CO dehydrogenase enzyme complex and ferredoxin enabled the CO-dependent reduction of cytochrome b.

Purification of a two-subunit cytochrome-b-containing heterodisulfide reductase from methanol-grown Methanosarcina barkeri

Heterodisulfide reductase catalyzes the terminal step in the energy-conserving electron-transport chain in methanogenic Archaea. The heterodisulfide reductase activity of the membrane fraction of methanol-grown Methanosarcina barkeri was solubilized by Chaps. Chromatography on Q-Sepharose and Superdex-200 yielded a high-molecular-mass fraction (> 700 kDa) which was dissociated by dodecyl beta-D-maltoside. After chromatography on Q-Sepharose, an active heterodisulfide reductase preparation was obtained which was composed of only two different subunits of apparent molecular masses 46 kDa and 23 kDa. For each 69 kDa, the enzyme contained 0.6 mol cytochrome b, 0.2 mol FAD, 20 mol non-heme iron and 20 mol acid-labile sulfur. The 23-kDa subunit possessed heme-derived peroxidase activity, showing that this polypeptide is the cytochrome b. The purified enzyme contained the cytochrome b in the reduced form. Upon addition of the heterodisulfide of coenzyme M and N-7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine phosphate the cytochrome was instantaneously oxidized, indicating that the cytochrome b served as electron donor for heterodisulfide reduction.

H2: heterodisulfide oxidoreductase complex from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum. Composition and properties

The reduction of the heterodisulfide (CoM-S-S-HTP) of coenzyme M (H-S-CoM) and N-7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine phosphate (H-S-HTP) with H2 is an energy-conserving step in most methanogenic Archaea. In this study, we show that in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (strain Marburg) this reaction is catalyzed by a stable H2-heterodisulfide oxidoreductase complex of F420-non-reducing hydrogenase and heterodisulfide reductase. This complex, which was loosely associated with the cytoplasmic membrane, was purified 17-fold with 80% yield to apparent homogeneity. The purified complex was composed of six different subunits of apparent molecular masses 80, 51, 41, 36, 21 and 17 kDa, and 1 mol complex, with apparent molecular mass 250 kDa, contained approximately 0.6 mol nickel, 0.9 mol FAD, 26 mol non-heme iron and 22 mol acid-labile sulfur. In 25 mM Chaps, the complex partially dissociated into two subcomplexes. The first subcomplex was was composed of the 51-, 41- and 17-kDa subunits; 1 mol trimer contained 0.7 mol nickel, 10 mol non-heme iron and 9 mol acid-labile sulfur and exhibited F420-non-reducing hydrogenase activity. The other subcomplex was composed of the 80-, 36- and 21-kDa subunits; 1 mol trimer contained 0.8 mol FAD, 22 mol non-heme iron and 15 mol acid-labile sulfur and exhibited heterodi-sulfide-reductase activity. The stimulatory effects of potassium phosphate, a membrane component, uracil derivatives and coenzyme F430 on the H2:heterodisulfide-oxidoreductase activity of the purified complex are described.

Metabolism of methanogens

Methanogenic archaea convert a few simple compounds such as H2 + CO2, formate, methanol, methylamines, and acetate to methane. Methanogenesis from all these substrates requires a number of unique coenzymes, some of which are exclusively found in methanogens. H2-dependent CO2 reduction proceeds via carrier-bound C1 intermediates which become stepwise reduced to methane. Methane formation from methanol and methylamines involves the disproportionation of the methyl groups. Part of the methyl groups are oxidized to CO2, and the reducing equivalents thereby gained are subsequently used to reduce other methyl groups to methane. This process involves the same C1 intermediates that are formed during methanogenesis from CO2. Conversion of acetate to methane and carbon dioxide is preceded by its activation to acetyl-CoA. Cleavage of the latter compound yields a coenzyme-bound methyl moiety and an enzyme-bound carbonyl group. The reducing equivalents gained by oxidation of the carbonyl group to carbon dioxide are subsequently used to reduce the methyl moiety to methane. All these processes lead to the generation of transmembrane ion gradients which fuel ATP synthesis via one or two types of ATP synthases. The synthesis of cellular building blocks starts with the central anabolic intermediate acetyl-CoA which, in autotrophic methanogens, is synthesized from two molecules of CO2 in a linear pathway.