Exploring modes of microbial interactions with implications for methane cycling

TY - JOUR

T1 - Exploring modes of microbial interactions with implications for methane cycling

AU - Brenzinger, Kristof

AU - Glatter, Timo

AU - Hakobyan, Anna

AU - Meima-Franke, Marion

AU - Zweers, Hans

AU - Liesack, Werner

AU - Bodelier, Paul L.E.

N1 - Data archiving: proteomeXchange

PY - 2024/9/1

Y1 - 2024/9/1

N2 - Methanotrophs are the sole biological sink of methane. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by heterotrophic bacteria have been demonstrated to be a potential modulating factor of methane consumption. Here, we identify and disentangle the impact of the volatolome of heterotrophic bacteria on the methanotroph activity and proteome, using Methylomonas as model organism. Our study unambiguously shows how methanotrophy can be influenced by other organisms without direct physical contact. This influence is mediated by VOCs (e.g. dimethyl-polysulphides) or/and CO2 emitted during respiration, which can inhibit growth and methane uptake of the methanotroph, while other VOCs had a stimulating effect on methanotroph activity. Depending on whether the methanotroph was exposed to the volatolome of the heterotroph or to CO2, proteomics revealed differential protein expression patterns with the soluble methane monooxygenase being the most affected enzyme. The interaction between methanotrophs and heterotrophs can have strong positive or negative effects on methane consumption, depending on the species interacting with the methanotroph. We identified potential VOCs involved in the inhibition while positive effects may be triggered by CO2 released by heterotrophic respiration. Our experimental proof of methanotroph–heterotroph interactions clearly calls for detailed research into strategies on how to mitigate methane emissions.

AB - Methanotrophs are the sole biological sink of methane. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by heterotrophic bacteria have been demonstrated to be a potential modulating factor of methane consumption. Here, we identify and disentangle the impact of the volatolome of heterotrophic bacteria on the methanotroph activity and proteome, using Methylomonas as model organism. Our study unambiguously shows how methanotrophy can be influenced by other organisms without direct physical contact. This influence is mediated by VOCs (e.g. dimethyl-polysulphides) or/and CO2 emitted during respiration, which can inhibit growth and methane uptake of the methanotroph, while other VOCs had a stimulating effect on methanotroph activity. Depending on whether the methanotroph was exposed to the volatolome of the heterotroph or to CO2, proteomics revealed differential protein expression patterns with the soluble methane monooxygenase being the most affected enzyme. The interaction between methanotrophs and heterotrophs can have strong positive or negative effects on methane consumption, depending on the species interacting with the methanotroph. We identified potential VOCs involved in the inhibition while positive effects may be triggered by CO2 released by heterotrophic respiration. Our experimental proof of methanotroph–heterotroph interactions clearly calls for detailed research into strategies on how to mitigate methane emissions.

KW - bacterial interaction

KW - heterotrophs

KW - methane oxidation

KW - methanotrophs

KW - protein composition

KW - volatile organic compounds

U2 - 10.1093/femsec/fiae112

DO - 10.1093/femsec/fiae112

M3 - Article

C2 - 39122657

AN - SCOPUS:85203204410

SN - 0168-6496

VL - 100

JO - FEMS Microbiology Ecology

JF - FEMS Microbiology Ecology

IS - 9

M1 - fiae112

ER -