Alternative sources of molybdenum for Methanococcus maripaludis and their implication for the evolution of molybdoenzymes.

ABSTRACT: Molybdoenzymes are essential in global nitrogen, carbon, and sulfur cycling. To date, the only known bioavailable source of molybdenum (Mo) is molybdate. However, in the sulfidic and anoxic (euxinic) habitats that predominate in modern subsurface environments and that were pervasive prior to Earth's widespread oxygenation, Mo occurs as soluble tetrathiomolybdate ion and molybdenite mineral that is not known to be bioavailable. This presents a paradox for how organisms obtain Mo to support molybdoenzymes in these environments. Here, we show that tetrathiomolybdate and molybdenite sustain the high Mo demand of a model anaerobic methanogen, Methanococcus maripaludis, grown via Mo-dependent formate dehydrogenase, formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase, and nitrogenase. Cells grown with tetrathiomoly

SUBMITTER: Payne D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11484787 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature