Trace gas oxidation sustains energy needs of a thermophilic archaeon at suboptimal temperatures.

ABSTRACT: Diverse aerobic bacteria use atmospheric hydrogen (H₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) as energy sources to support growth and survival. Such trace gas oxidation is recognised as a globally significant process that serves as the main sink in the biogeochemical H₂ cycle and sustains microbial biodiversity in oligotrophic ecosystems. However, it is unclear whether archaea can also use atmospheric H₂. Here we show that a thermoacidophilic archaeon, Acidianus brierleyi (Thermoproteota), constitutively consumes H₂ and CO to sub-atmospheric levels. Oxidation occurs across a wide range of temperatures (10 to 70 °C) and enhances ATP production during starvation-induced persistence under temperate conditions. The genome of A. brierleyi encodes a canonical CO deh

SUBMITTER: Leung PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11018855 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature