Hydrogen-limited growth of hyperthermophilic methanogens at deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

TitleHydrogen-limited growth of hyperthermophilic methanogens at deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsVer Eecke HC, Butterfield DA, Huber JA, Lilley MD, Olson EJ, Roe KK, Evans LJ, Merkel AY, Cantin HV, Holden JF
JournalProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Volume109
Issue34
Pagination13674-9
Date Published2012 Aug 21
ISSN1091-6490
KeywordsArchaea, Biodiversity, Coculture Techniques, DNA, Ribosomal, Ecosystem, Gases, Geography, Hydrogen, Hydrothermal Vents, Kinetics, Methane, Molecular Sequence Data, Temperature, Time Factors, Water Microbiology
Abstract

Microbial productivity at hydrothermal vents is among the highest found anywhere in the deep ocean, but constraints on microbial growth and metabolism at vents are lacking. We used a combination of cultivation, molecular, and geochemical tools to verify pure culture H(2) threshold measurements for hyperthermophilic methanogenesis in low-temperature hydrothermal fluids from Axial Volcano and Endeavour Segment in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Two Methanocaldococcus strains from Axial and Methanocaldococcus jannaschii showed similar Monod growth kinetics when grown in a bioreactor at varying H(2) concentrations. Their H(2) half-saturation value was 66 μM, and growth ceased below 17-23 μM H(2), 10-fold lower than previously predicted. By comparison, measured H(2) and CH(4) concentrations in fluids suggest that there was generally sufficient H(2) for Methanocaldococcus growth at Axial but not at Endeavour. Fluids from one vent at Axial (Marker 113) had anomalously high CH(4) concentrations and contained various thermal classes of methanogens based on cultivation and mcrA/mrtA analyses. At Endeavour, methanogens were largely undetectable in fluid samples based on cultivation and molecular screens, although abundances of hyperthermophilic heterotrophs were relatively high. Where present, Methanocaldococcus genes were the predominant mcrA/mrtA sequences recovered and comprised ∼0.2-6% of the total archaeal community. Field and coculture data suggest that H(2) limitation may be partly ameliorated by H(2) syntrophy with hyperthermophilic heterotrophs. These data support our estimated H(2) threshold for hyperthermophilic methanogenesis at vents and highlight the need for coupled laboratory and field measurements to constrain microbial distribution and biogeochemical impacts in the deep sea.

DOI10.1073/pnas.1206632109
Alternate JournalProc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
PubMed ID22869718
PubMed Central IDPMC3427048