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PreprintCited by 23Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactantsMicrobial metabolism and enzyme functionMicrobial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation

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Nitrate-driven anaerobic oxidation of ethane and butane by bacteria

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Wu, Mengxiong, Li, Jie, Lai, Chun-Yu, Leu, Andy O, Sun, Shengjie, Gu, Rui, Erler, Dirk V, Liu, Lian, Li, Lin, Tyson, Gene W., Yuan, Zhiguo, McIlroy, Simon J., Guo, Jianhua·2023·The ISME Journal
DOI 10.1101/2023.08.24.554723PMC PMC10811727

Preprint — published as 10.1093/ismejo/wrad011 · Paper page

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Abstract

The short-chain gaseous alkanes (ethane, propane and butane; SCGAs) are important components of natural gas, yet our understanding of their fate in environmental systems is poorly understood. Microbially mediated anaerobic oxidation of SCGAs coupled to nitrate reduction has been demonstrated for propane, but is yet to be shown for ethane or butane – despite being energetically feasible. Here we report two independent bacterial enrichments performing anaerobic ethane and butane oxidation, respectively, coupled to nitrate reduction to dinitrogen gas and ammonium. Isotopic 13 C-and 15 N-labelling experiments, mass and electron balance tests, and metabolite and meta-omics analyses collectively reveal that the recently described propane-oxidising ‘ Candidatus Alkanivorans nitratireducens’ was also responsible for nitrate-dependent anaerobic oxidation of the SCGAs in both these enrichments. The complete genome of this species encodes alkylsuccinate synthase genes for the activation of ethane/butane via fumarate addition. Further substrate range tests confirm ‘ Ca. A. nitratireducens’ is metabolically versatile, being able to degrade ethane, propane and butane under anaerobic conditions. Moreover, our study proves nitrate as an additional electron sink for ethane and butane in anaerobic environments, and for the first time demonstrates the use of the fumarate addition pathway in anaerobic ethane oxidation. These findings significantly contribute to our understanding of microbial metabolism of SCGAs in anaerobic environments.

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Metadata

Authors
Wu, M., Li, J., Lai, C.-Y., Leu, A. O., Sun, S., Gu, R., Erler, D. V., Liu, L., Li, L., Tyson, G. W., Yuan, Z., McIlroy, S. J., & Guo, J.
Affiliations
  • The University of Queensland (AU)
  • Translational Research Institute (AU)
  • The University of Texas at El Paso (US)
  • Southern Cross University (AU)
Corresponding author
  • Lai, Chun-Yu
  • Guo, Jianhua
ORCID
Venue
The ISME Journal
Publisher
openRxiv
Published
2023-08-25
Volume
18
Issue
1
ISSN
1751-7362 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1101/2023.08.24.554723
PMC
PMC10811727
OpenAlex
W4390704517
Cited by
23
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 8
FWCI
2.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • The ISME Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
  • CityU Scholars (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Australian Research Council (FT170100070, FT190100211, FT170100196, FL170100086)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (SC1GM132043)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Microbial metabolism and enzyme function
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation
Keywords
nitrate reduction, ammonium production, microbial enrichment cultures, electron sink
MeSH terms
Anaerobiosis, Bacteria, Butanes, Ethane, Fumarates, Gases, Nitrates, Oxidation-Reduction, Propane

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