Discovery of a novel methanogen prevalent in thawing permafrost

Rhiannon Mondav, Ben J. Woodcroft, Eun-Hae Kim, Carmody K. McCalley, Suzanne B. Hodgkins, Patrick M. Crill, Jeffrey Chanton, Gregory B. Hurst, Nathan C. VerBerkmoes, Scott R. Saleska, Philip Hugenholtz, Virginia I. Rich and Gene W. Tyson ()
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Rhiannon Mondav: Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland
Ben J. Woodcroft: Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland
Eun-Hae Kim: Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona
Carmody K. McCalley: University of Arizona
Suzanne B. Hodgkins: Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University
Patrick M. Crill: Stockholm University
Jeffrey Chanton: Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University
Gregory B. Hurst: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Nathan C. VerBerkmoes: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Scott R. Saleska: University of Arizona
Philip Hugenholtz: Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland
Virginia I. Rich: Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona
Gene W. Tyson: Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Thawing permafrost promotes microbial degradation of cryo-sequestered and new carbon leading to the biogenic production of methane, creating a positive feedback to climate change. Here we determine microbial community composition along a permafrost thaw gradient in northern Sweden. Partially thawed sites were frequently dominated by a single archaeal phylotype, Candidatus ‘Methanoflorens stordalenmirensis’ gen. nov. sp. nov., belonging to the uncultivated lineage ‘Rice Cluster II’ (Candidatus ‘Methanoflorentaceae’ fam. nov.). Metagenomic sequencing led to the recovery of its near-complete genome, revealing the genes necessary for hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. These genes are highly expressed and methane carbon isotope data are consistent with hydrogenotrophic production of methane in the partially thawed site. In addition to permafrost wetlands, ‘Methanoflorentaceae’ are widespread in high methane-flux habitats suggesting that this lineage is both prevalent and a major contributor to global methane production. In thawing permafrost, Candidatus ‘M. stordalenmirensis’ appears to be a key mediator of methane-based positive feedback to climate warming.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4212

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