title: New Methyloceanibacter diversity from North Sea sediments includes methanotroph containing solely the soluble methane monooxygenase.
abstract: Marine methylotrophs play a key role in the global carbon cycle by metabolizing reduced one-carbon compounds that are found in high concentrations in marine environments. Genome, physiology and diversity studies have been greatly facilitated by the numerous model organisms brought into culture. However, the availability of marine representatives remains poor. Here, we report the isolation of four novel species from North Sea sediment enrichments closely related to the Alphaproteobacterium Methyloceanibacter caenitepidi. Each of the newly isolated Methyloceanibacter species exhibited a clear genome sequence divergence which was reflected in physiological differences. Notably one strain R-67174 was capable of oxidizing methane as sole source of carbon and energy using solely a soluble methane monooxygenase and represents the first marine Alphaproteobacterial methanotroph brought into culture. Differences in maximum cell density of >1.5 orders of magnitude were observed. Furthermore, three strains were capable of producing nitrous oxide from nitrate. Together, these findings highlight the metabolic and physiologic variability within closely related Methyloceanibacter species and provide a new understanding of the physiological basis of marine methylotrophy.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Laboratory of Microbiology (LM-UGent), Ghent University, Karel Lodewijck Ledeganckstraat 35, Gent, 9000, Belgium.
authors: Bram
authors: B
authors: Vekeman
authors: Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent, 9000, Belgium.
authors: Frederiek-Maarten
authors: FM
authors: Kerckhof
authors: Department of Microbiology, IWWR, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, AJ Nijmegen, 6525, The Netherlands.
authors: Geert
authors: G
authors: Cremers
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Laboratory of Microbiology (LM-UGent), Ghent University, Karel Lodewijck Ledeganckstraat 35, Gent, 9000, Belgium.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: de Vos
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Laboratory of Microbiology (LM-UGent), Ghent University, Karel Lodewijck Ledeganckstraat 35, Gent, 9000, Belgium.|BCCM/LMG Bacteria Collection, Ghent University, Karel Lodewijck Ledeganckstraat 35, Gent, 9000, Belgium.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Vandamme
authors: Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent, 9000, Belgium.
authors: Nico
authors: N
authors: Boon
authors: Department of Microbiology, IWWR, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, AJ Nijmegen, 6525, The Netherlands.
authors: Huub J M
authors: HJ
authors: Op den Camp
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Laboratory of Microbiology (LM-UGent), Ghent University, Karel Lodewijck Ledeganckstraat 35, Gent, 9000, Belgium.
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Heylen
mesh_terms: D020561:Alphaproteobacteria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009659:North Sea; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D010105:Oxygenases; C021555:methane monooxygenase; D008697:Methane