Methane production by phosphate-starved SAR11 chemoheterotrophic marine bacteria

Paul Carini, Angelicque E. White, Emily O. Campbell and Stephen J. Giovannoni ()
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Paul Carini: Oregon State University
Angelicque E. White: College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University
Emily O. Campbell: Oregon State University
Stephen J. Giovannoni: Oregon State University

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

Abstract: Abstract The oxygenated surface waters of the world’s oceans are supersaturated with methane relative to the atmosphere, a phenomenon termed the ‘marine methane paradox’. The production of methylphosphonic acid (MPn) by marine archaea related to Nitrosopumilus maritimus and subsequent decomposition of MPn by phosphate-starved bacterioplankton may partially explain the excess methane in surface waters. Here we show that Pelagibacterales sp. strain HTCC7211, an isolate of the SAR11 clade of marine α-proteobacteria, produces methane from MPn, stoichiometric to phosphorus consumption, when starved for phosphate. Gene transcripts encoding phosphonate transport and hydrolysis proteins are upregulated under phosphate limitation, suggesting a genetic basis for the methanogenic phenotype. Strain HTCC7211 can also use 2-aminoethylphosphonate and assorted phosphate esters for phosphorus nutrition. Despite strain-specific differences in phosphorus utilization, these findings identify Pelagibacterales bacteria as a source of biogenic methane and further implicate phosphate starvation of chemoheterotrophic bacteria in the long-observed methane supersaturation in oxygenated waters.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5346

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