Trace gas oxidation sustains energy needs of a thermophilic archaeon at suboptimal temperatures.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 38622143.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-47324-2 and PMC identifier 11018855.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Diverse aerobic bacteria use atmospheric hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) and carbon monoxide (CO) as energy sources to support growth and survival. Such trace gas oxidation is recognised as a globally significant process that serves as the main sink in the biogeochemical H<sub>2</sub> cycle and sustains microbial biodiversity in oligotrophic ecosystems. However, it is unclear whether archaea can also use atmospheric H<sub>2</sub>. Here we show that a thermoacidophilic archaeon, Acidianus brierleyi (Thermoproteota), constitutively consumes H<sub>2</sub> and CO to sub-atmospheric levels. Oxidation occurs across a wide range of temperatures (10 to 70 °C) and enhances ATP production during starvation-induced persistence under temperate conditions. The genome of A. brierleyi encodes a canonical CO dehydrogenase and four distinct [NiFe]-hydrogenases, which are differentially produced in response to electron donor and acceptor availability. Another archaeon, Metallosphaera sedula, can also oxidize atmospheric H<sub>2</sub>. Our results suggest that trace gas oxidation is a common trait of Sulfolobales archaea and may play a role in their survival and niche expansion, including during dispersal through temperate environments.
Medical subject headings
- Archaea
- Acidianus