title: Methane production from coal by a single methanogen.
abstract: Coal-bed methane is one of the largest unconventional natural gas resources. Although microbial activity may greatly contribute to coal-bed methane formation, it is unclear whether the complex aromatic organic compounds present in coal can be used for methanogenesis. We show that deep subsurface-derived Methermicoccus methanogens can produce methane from more than 30 types of methoxylated aromatic compounds (MACs) as well as from coals containing MACs. In contrast to known methanogenesis pathways involving one- and two-carbon compounds, this "methoxydotrophic" mode of methanogenesis couples O-demethylation, CO2reduction, and possibly acetyl-coenzyme A metabolism. Because MACs derived from lignin may occur widely in subsurface sediments, methoxydotrophic methanogenesis would play an important role in the formation of natural gas not limited to coal-bed methane and in the global carbon cycle.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8567, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mayumi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8567, Japan.
authors.forename: Hanako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mochimaru
authors.affiliation: Bioproduction Research Institute, AIST, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8566, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamaki
authors.affiliation: Bioproduction Research Institute, AIST, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8566, Japan.
authors.forename: Kyosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8567, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideyoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.affiliation: Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8567, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Bioproduction Research Institute, AIST, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8566, Japan. y.kamagata@aist.go.jp su-sakata@aist.go.jp.
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamagata
authors.affiliation: Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8567, Japan. y.kamagata@aist.go.jp su-sakata@aist.go.jp.
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakata
mesh_terms: D000105:Acetyl Coenzyme A / Q000378:metabolism; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D003031:Coal / Q000382:microbiology*; D062425:Hydroxybenzoate Ethers / Q000378:metabolism; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D000432:Methanol / Q000378:metabolism; D019640:Methanosarcinales / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008745:Methylation; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011849:Radioactive Tracers
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D003031:Coal; D062425:Hydroxybenzoate Ethers; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000105:Acetyl Coenzyme A; D008697:Methane; D000432:Methanol