Simultaneous Oxidation of Atmospheric Methane, Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen for Bacterial Growth

The second largest sink for atmospheric methane (CH4) is atmospheric methane oxidizing-bacteria (atmMOB). How atmMOB are able to sustain life on the low CH4 concentrations in air is unknown. Here, we show that during growth, with air as its only source for energy and carbon, the recently isolated atmospheric methane-oxidizer Methylocapsa gorgona MG08 (USC alpha) oxidizes three atmospheric energy sources: CH4, carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen (H-2) to support growth. The cell-specific CH4 oxidation rate of M. gorgona MG08 was estimated at similar to 0.7 x 10(-18) mol cell(-1) h(-1), which, together with the oxidation of CO and H-2, supplies 0.38 kJ Cmol(-1) h(-1) during growth in air. This is seven times lower than previously assumed necessary to support bacterial maintenance. We conclude that atmospheric methane-oxidation is supported by a metabolic flexibility that enables the simultaneous harvest of CH4, H-2 and CO from air, but the key characteristic of atmospheric CH4 oxidizing bacteria might be very low energy requirements.

Automated summary

Atmospheric methane-oxidizing bacteria are capable of sustaining growth by simultaneously utilizing CH4, H-2, and CO from the air. Research suggests that their low energy requirements and metabolic flexibility may be key factors in their success.