Zero-valent sulphur is a key intermediate in marine methane oxidation

Jana Milucka (), Timothy G. Ferdelman, Lubos Polerecky, Daniela Franzke, Gunter Wegener, Markus Schmid, Ingo Lieberwirth, Michael Wagner, Friedrich Widdel and Marcel M. M. Kuypers
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Jana Milucka: Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Timothy G. Ferdelman: Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Lubos Polerecky: Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Daniela Franzke: Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Gunter Wegener: Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Markus Schmid: University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Ingo Lieberwirth: Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
Michael Wagner: University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Friedrich Widdel: Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Marcel M. M. Kuypers: Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany

Nature, 2012, vol. 491, issue 7425, 541-546

Abstract: Abstract Emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from marine sediments are controlled by anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled primarily to sulphate reduction (AOM). Sulphate-coupled AOM is believed to be mediated by a consortium of methanotrophic archaea (ANME) and sulphate-reducing Deltaproteobacteria but the underlying mechanism has not yet been resolved. Here we show that zero-valent sulphur compounds (S0) are formed during AOM through a new pathway for dissimilatory sulphate reduction performed by the methanotrophic archaea. Hence, AOM might not be an obligate syntrophic process but may be carried out by the ANME alone. Furthermore, we show that the produced S0—in the form of disulphide—is disproportionated by the Deltaproteobacteria associated with the ANME. Our observations expand the diversity of known microbially mediated sulphur transformations and have significant implications for our understanding of the biogeochemical carbon and sulphur cycles.

Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.1038/nature11656

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