Insights into the ecological roles and evolution of methyl-coenzyme M reductase-containing hot spring Archaea

Zheng-Shuang Hua, Yu-Lin Wang, Paul N. Evans, Yan-Ni Qu, Kian Mau Goh, Yang-Zhi Rao, Yan-Ling Qi, Yu-Xian Li, Min-Jun Huang, Jian-Yu Jiao, Ya-Ting Chen, Yan-Ping Mao, Wen-Sheng Shu, Wael Hozzein, Brian P. Hedlund, Gene W. Tyson (), Tong Zhang () and Wen-Jun Li ()
Additional contact information
Zheng-Shuang Hua: Sun Yat-Sen University
Yu-Lin Wang: The University of Hong Kong
Paul N. Evans: University of Queensland
Yan-Ni Qu: Sun Yat-Sen University
Kian Mau Goh: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Yang-Zhi Rao: Sun Yat-Sen University
Yan-Ling Qi: Sun Yat-Sen University
Yu-Xian Li: Sun Yat-Sen University
Min-Jun Huang: Dartmouth College
Jian-Yu Jiao: Sun Yat-Sen University
Ya-Ting Chen: Sun Yat-Sen University
Yan-Ping Mao: The University of Hong Kong
Wen-Sheng Shu: South China Normal University
Wael Hozzein: King Saud University
Brian P. Hedlund: University of Nevada Las Vegas
Gene W. Tyson: University of Queensland
Tong Zhang: The University of Hong Kong
Wen-Jun Li: Sun Yat-Sen University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Several recent studies have shown the presence of genes for the key enzyme associated with archaeal methane/alkane metabolism, methyl-coenzyme M reductase (Mcr), in metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) divergent to existing archaeal lineages. Here, we study the mcr-containing archaeal MAGs from several hot springs, which reveal further expansion in the diversity of archaeal organisms performing methane/alkane metabolism. Significantly, an MAG basal to organisms from the phylum Thaumarchaeota that contains mcr genes, but not those for ammonia oxidation or aerobic metabolism, is identified. Together, our phylogenetic analyses and ancestral state reconstructions suggest a mostly vertical evolution of mcrABG genes among methanogens and methanotrophs, along with frequent horizontal gene transfer of mcr genes between alkanotrophs. Analysis of all mcr-containing archaeal MAGs/genomes suggests a hydrothermal origin for these microorganisms based on optimal growth temperature predictions. These results also suggest methane/alkane oxidation or methanogenesis at high temperature likely existed in a common archaeal ancestor.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12574-y

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