title: Formate-driven growth coupled with H(2) production.
abstract: Although a common reaction in anaerobic environments, the conversion of formate and water to bicarbonate and H(2) (with a change in Gibbs free energy of ΔG° = +1.3 kJ mol(-1)) has not been considered energetic enough to support growth of microorganisms. Recently, experimental evidence for growth on formate was reported for syntrophic communities of Moorella sp. strain AMP and a hydrogen-consuming Methanothermobacter species and of Desulfovibrio sp. strain G11 and Methanobrevibacter arboriphilus strain AZ. The basis of the sustainable growth of the formate-users is explained by H(2) consumption by the methanogens, which lowers the H(2) partial pressure, thus making the pathway exergonic. However, it has not been shown that a single strain can grow on formate by catalysing its conversion to bicarbonate and H(2). Here we report that several hyperthermophilic archaea belonging to the Thermococcus genus are capable of formate-oxidizing, H(2)-producing growth. The actual ΔG values for the formate metabolism are calculated to range between -8 and -20 kJ mol(-1) under the physiological conditions where Thermococcus onnurineus strain NA1 are grown. Furthermore, we detected ATP synthesis in the presence of formate as a sole energy source. Gene expression profiling and disruption identified the gene cluster encoding formate hydrogen lyase, cation/proton antiporter and formate transporter, which were responsible for the growth of T. onnurineus NA1 on formate. This work shows formate-driven growth by a single microorganism with protons as the electron acceptor, and reports the biochemical basis of this ability.
authors.affiliation: Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute, PO Box 29, Ansan 425-600, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Jae
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eun Sook
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Seob
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Jae Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsumi
authors.forename: Alexander V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Lebedinsky
authors.forename: Tatyana G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Sokolova
authors.forename: Darya A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kozhevnikova
authors.forename: Sun-Shin
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Sang-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kae Kyoung
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Tadayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imanaka
authors.forename: Haruyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Atomi
authors.forename: Elizaveta A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bonch-Osmolovskaya
authors.forename: Jung-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Gyun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D055162:Biocatalysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D004583:Electrons; D005560:Formate Dehydrogenases; D005561:Formates / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D019848:Gene Expression Regulation, Archaeal / Q000235:genetics; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006864:Hydrogenase; D008190:Lyases / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011522:Protons; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019712:Thermococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005561:Formates; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D011522:Protons; D014867:Water; C030544:formic acid; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D006864:Hydrogenase; D005560:Formate Dehydrogenases; C054017:formate hydrogenlyase; D008190:Lyases