A megatransposon drives the adaptation of Thermoanaerobacter kivui to carbon monoxide.

ABSTRACT: Acetogens are promising industrial biocatalysts for upgrading syngas, a gas mixture containing CO, H₂ and CO₂ into fuels and chemicals. However, CO severely inhibits growth of many acetogens, often requiring extensive adaptation to enable efficient CO conversion (carboxydotrophy). Here, we adapt the thermophilic acetogen Thermoanaerobacter kivui to use CO as sole carbon and energy source. Isolate CO-1 exhibits rapid growth on CO and syngas (co-utilizing CO, H₂ and CO₂) in batch and continuous cultures (µ_max ~ 0.25 h^-1). The carboxydotrophic phenotype is attributed to the mobilization of a CO-dependent megatransposon originating from the locus responsible for autotrophy in T. kivui. Transcriptomics reveal the crucial role the

SUBMITTER: Hocq R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12056078 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature