Biological methane production under putative Enceladus-like conditions

Ruth-Sophie Taubner, Patricia Pappenreiter, Jennifer Zwicker, Daniel Smrzka, Christian Pruckner, Philipp Kolar, Sébastien Bernacchi, Arne H. Seifert, Alexander Krajete, Wolfgang Bach, Jörn Peckmann, Christian Paulik, Maria G. Firneis, Christa Schleper and Simon K.-M. R. Rittmann ()
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Ruth-Sophie Taubner: Universität Wien
Patricia Pappenreiter: Johannes Kepler Universität Linz
Jennifer Zwicker: Universität Wien
Daniel Smrzka: Universität Wien
Christian Pruckner: Universität Wien
Philipp Kolar: Universität Wien
Sébastien Bernacchi: Krajete GmbH
Arne H. Seifert: Krajete GmbH
Alexander Krajete: Krajete GmbH
Wolfgang Bach: Universität Bremen
Jörn Peckmann: Universität Wien
Christian Paulik: Johannes Kepler Universität Linz
Maria G. Firneis: Universität Wien
Christa Schleper: Universität Wien
Simon K.-M. R. Rittmann: Universität Wien

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The detection of silica-rich dust particles, as an indication for ongoing hydrothermal activity, and the presence of water and organic molecules in the plume of Enceladus, have made Saturn’s icy moon a hot spot in the search for potential extraterrestrial life. Methanogenic archaea are among the organisms that could potentially thrive under the predicted conditions on Enceladus, considering that both molecular hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) have been detected in the plume. Here we show that a methanogenic archaeon, Methanothermococcus okinawensis, can produce CH4 under physicochemical conditions extrapolated for Enceladus. Up to 72% carbon dioxide to CH4 conversion is reached at 50 bar in the presence of potential inhibitors. Furthermore, kinetic and thermodynamic computations of low-temperature serpentinization indicate that there may be sufficient H2 gas production to serve as a substrate for CH4 production on Enceladus. We conclude that some of the CH4 detected in the plume of Enceladus might, in principle, be produced by methanogens.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-02876-y

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