Simultaneous sulfide and methane oxidation by an extremophile

Rob A. Schmitz, Stijn H. Peeters, Sepehr S. Mohammadi, Tom Berben, Timo Erven, Carmen A. Iosif, Theo Alen, Wouter Versantvoort, Mike S. M. Jetten, Huub J. M. Op den Camp () and Arjan Pol
Additional contact information
Rob A. Schmitz: Radboud University
Stijn H. Peeters: Radboud University
Sepehr S. Mohammadi: Radboud University
Tom Berben: Radboud University
Timo Erven: Radboud University
Carmen A. Iosif: Radboud University
Theo Alen: Radboud University
Wouter Versantvoort: Radboud University
Mike S. M. Jetten: Radboud University
Huub J. M. Op den Camp: Radboud University
Arjan Pol: Radboud University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and methane (CH4) are produced in anoxic environments through sulfate reduction and organic matter decomposition. Both gases diffuse upwards into oxic zones where aerobic methanotrophs mitigate CH4 emissions by oxidizing this potent greenhouse gas. Although methanotrophs in myriad environments encounter toxic H2S, it is virtually unknown how they are affected. Here, through extensive chemostat culturing we show that a single microorganism can oxidize CH4 and H2S simultaneously at equally high rates. By oxidizing H2S to elemental sulfur, the thermoacidophilic methanotroph Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum SolV alleviates the inhibitory effects of H2S on methanotrophy. Strain SolV adapts to increasing H2S by expressing a sulfide-insensitive ba3-type terminal oxidase and grows as chemolithoautotroph using H2S as sole energy source. Genomic surveys revealed putative sulfide-oxidizing enzymes in numerous methanotrophs, suggesting that H2S oxidation is much more widespread in methanotrophs than previously assumed, enabling them to connect carbon and sulfur cycles in novel ways.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38699-9

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