title: The methanogenic redox cofactor F420is widely synthesized by aerobic soil bacteria.
abstract: F420is a low-potential redox cofactor that mediates the transformations of a wide range of complex organic compounds. Considered one of the rarest cofactors in biology, F420is best known for its role in methanogenesis and has only been chemically identified in two phyla to date, the Euryarchaeota and Actinobacteria. In this work, we show that this cofactor is more widely distributed than previously reported. We detected the genes encoding all five known F420biosynthesis enzymes (cofC, cofD, cofE, cofG and cofH) in at least 653 bacterial and 173 archaeal species, including members of the dominant soil phyla Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi and Firmicutes. Metagenome datamining validated that these genes were disproportionately abundant in aerated soils compared with other ecosystems. We confirmed through high-performance liquid chromatography analysis that aerobically grown stationary-phase cultures of three bacterial species, Paracoccus denitrificans, Oligotropha carboxidovorans and Thermomicrobium roseum, synthesized F420, with oligoglutamate sidechains of different lengths. To understand the evolution of F420biosynthesis, we also analyzed the distribution, phylogeny and genetic organization of the cof genes. Our data suggest that although the Foprecursor to F420originated in methanogens, F420itself was first synthesized in an ancestral actinobacterium. F420biosynthesis genes were then disseminated horizontally to archaea and other bacteria. Together, our findings suggest that the cofactor is more significant in aerobic bacterial metabolism and soil ecosystem composition than previously thought. The cofactor may confer several competitive advantages for aerobic soil bacteria by mediating their central metabolic processes and broadening the range of organic compounds they can synthesize, detoxify and mineralize.
authors: Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.|The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Land and Water, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors: Blair
authors: B
authors: Ney
authors: Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors: F Hafna
authors: FH
authors: Ahmed
authors: GNS Science, Wairakei Research Centre, Taupō, New Zealand.
authors: Carlo R
authors: CR
authors: Carere
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors: Ambarish
authors: A
authors: Biswas
authors: The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Land and Water, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors: Andrew C
authors: AC
authors: Warden
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors: Sergio E
authors: SE
authors: Morales
authors: The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Land and Water, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors: Gunjan
authors: G
authors: Pandey
authors: Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Watt
authors: The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Land and Water, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors: John G
authors: JG
authors: Oakeshott
authors: The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Land and Water, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors: Matthew C
authors: MC
authors: Taylor
authors: GNS Science, Wairakei Research Centre, Taupō, New Zealand.
authors: Matthew B
authors: MB
authors: Stott
authors: Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors: Colin J
authors: CJ
authors: Jackson
authors: The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Land and Water, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Greening
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D001105:Archaea / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003067:Coenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017753:Ecosystem; D054892:Metagenome; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010802:Phylogeny; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003067:Coenzymes; D012987:Soil; D008697:Methane