Fungal oxidation of short-chain gaseous alkanes under extremely acidic conditions
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ABSTRACT: Short-chain gaseous alkanes (SCGAs) are key constituents of natural gas. When released into the atmosphere, they can significantly impact air quality and tropospheric chemistry. Although microbes can breakdown SCGAs through aerobic oxidation, the microbial taxa involved and their metabolic traits under acidic conditions remain poorly understood. Here, we report Fonsecaea alkanivorans sp. nov., a fungal species that can mediate aerobic SCGA oxidation at extremely low pH (2.2). Our long-term bioreactor experiments in extreme acidity, batch tests, and analysis of small subunit (SSU) rRNA sequences demonstrated the capacity of this enriched fungus in oxidizing ethane, propane, and butane. Meta-omics analyses revealed expression of genes associated with SCGA metabolism, and the function of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (from CYP52 family) in activating C–H bonds, converting alkanes to corresponding alkanols. These findings uncover a novel fungal pathway for SCGA oxidation under extreme acidity and highlight the broader role of fungi and cytochrome P450 in gaseous hydrocarbon cycling.
INSTRUMENT(S):
ORGANISM(S): Fonsecaea
SUBMITTER:
Xiawei Liu
LAB HEAD: Dr Jianhua Guo
PROVIDER: PXD067568 | Pride | 2026-04-09
REPOSITORIES: Pride
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