Anaerobic microbial methanol conversion in marine sediments

Abstract

Methanol is an ubiquitous compound that plays a role in microbial processes as a carbon and energy source, intermediate in metabolic processes or as end product in fermentation. In anoxic environments, methanol can act as the sole carbon and energy source for several guilds of microorganisms: sulfatereducing microorganisms, nitrate-reducing microorganisms, acetogens and methanogens. In marine sediments, these guilds compete for methanol as their common substrate, employing different biochemical pathways. In this review, we will give an overview of current knowledge of the various ways in which methanol reaches marine sediments, the ecology of microorganisms capable of utilizing methanol and their metabolism. Furthermore, through a metagenomic analysis, we shed light on the unknown diversity of methanol utilizers in marine sediments which is yet to be explored.

Taxonomic and carbon metabolic diversification of Bathyarchaeia during its co-evolution history with the early Earth surface environment

“…However, it is unlikely for Bathyarchaeia, as the key gene coding for methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) in methanogenesis is absent in the majority of Bathyarchaeia lineages (see the next part for details). In addition, anaerobic respiration and acetogenesis are alternative pathways for metabolizing methanol ( 48 ) and methylamines ( 49 ). Accordingly, given the generally missing sulfate reduction or denitrification pathways but the prevalent acetate metabolism-involved genes (e.g., Ack, Pta and ACSS) in most Bathyarchaeia MAGs (Fig.…”

“…The red, blue and green lines represent the estimated origin timing (period) of the Bathyarchaeia lignindegrading clade, white rot fungi and xylophagous beetles, respectively. Order Bifangarchaeales (11) Order Jinwuousiales (12) Order Mazuousiales (7) Order Houtuarculales (49) Order Wuzhiqiibiales (39) Order Zhuquarculales (10) Order Baizomonadales…”

Decoding the roles of extremophilic microbes in the anaerobic environments: Past, Present, and Future

“…However, the advancements in sequencing techniques, metagenomics approaches, and functional metagenomics screening-based methods have opened new avenues for exploring the wide applications of microbes residing in the extreme anaerobic environments. The use of metagenomic approaches to decipher the taxonomic diversity of the yet unexplored environments will lead to the identification of novel anaerobic microbial strains with previously unknown metabolic capabilities ( Alalawy et al., 2021 ; Fischer et al., 2021 ). This can be followed with the application of the functional metagenomic screening based strategies to explore the novel metabolic capabilities of anaerobic microbes living in an environment ( Macdonald et al., 2019 ).…”

Diversidade e Estrutura de Comunidades Microbianas em Áreas de Pockmarks e Diápiros de Sal na Margem Continental Brasileira (Sudoeste do Oceano Atlântico)

“…Methylotrophic microorganisms can be anaerobic, aerobic, or optional and occur in various aquatic and terrestrial environments (KELLY; MURRELL, 1999;CHISTOSERDOVA, 2015;CHISTOSERDOVA, 2018). Aerobic methylotrophic have already been reported in diverse environments, such as aerated and flooded soils in swamps, deserts, trundles, pastures, rhizosphere, and phyllosphere of various plants and in open and coastal ocean waters (KOLB, 2009;CHISTOSERDOVA, 2015;FISCHER et al, 2021).…”

“…Half of the global methanol production by photosynthesis as a by-product of exudate may exceed emissions from land plants (DIXON et al, 2013;BATES et al, 2021) READ et al, 2012;BATES et al, 2021) and estimates for marine sediment ranged from 0.3 μM to 100 μM (FISCHER et al, 2021;XU et al, 2021), with the concentration of methanol in the sediments significantly higher than in the water column.…”