title: An adhesin from hydrogen-utilizing rumen methanogen Methanobrevibacter ruminantium M1 binds a broad range of hydrogen-producing microorganisms.
abstract: Symbiotic associations are ubiquitous in the microbial world and have a major role in shaping the evolution of both partners. One of the most interesting mutualistic relationships exists between protozoa and methanogenic archaea in the fermentative forestomach (rumen) of ruminant animals. Methanogens reside within and on the surface of protozoa as symbionts, and interspecies hydrogen transfer is speculated to be the main driver for physical associations observed between the two groups. In silico analyses of several rumen methanogen genomes have previously shown that up to 5% of genes encode adhesin-like proteins, which may be central to rumen interspecies attachment. We hypothesized that adhesin-like proteins on methanogen cell surfaces facilitate attachment to protozoal hosts. Using phage display technology, we have identified a protein (Mru_1499) from Methanobrevibacter ruminantium M1 as an adhesin that binds to a broad range of rumen protozoa (including the genera Epidinium and Entodinium). This unique adhesin also binds the cell surface of the bacterium Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus, suggesting a broad adhesion spectrum for this protein.
authors.affiliation: Grasslands Research Centre, AgResearch Ltd, Palmerston North, New Zealand.|Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Grasslands Research Centre, AgResearch Ltd, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kittelmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Patchett
authors.affiliation: Grasslands Research Centre, AgResearch Ltd, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Graeme T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Attwood
authors.affiliation: Grasslands Research Centre, AgResearch Ltd, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rakonjac
authors.affiliation: Grasslands Research Centre, AgResearch Ltd, Palmerston North, New Zealand. dragana.gagic@agresearch.co.nz.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gagic
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D041581:Methanobrevibacter / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D012417:Rumen / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D006859:Hydrogen; D008697:Methane