{"id":540981,"date":"2023-01-19T19:42:03","date_gmt":"2023-01-19T16:42:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/methane-generating-microbe-can-grow-on-toxic-sulfite-without-becoming-poisoned\/"},"modified":"2023-01-19T19:42:03","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19T16:42:03","slug":"methane-generating-microbe-can-grow-on-toxic-sulfite-without-becoming-poisoned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/methane-generating-microbe-can-grow-on-toxic-sulfite-without-becoming-poisoned\/","title":{"rendered":"#Methane-generating microbe can grow on toxic sulfite without becoming poisoned"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3dfa5c34bd2\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3dfa5c34bd2\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/methane-generating-microbe-can-grow-on-toxic-sulfite-without-becoming-poisoned\/#%E2%80%9CMethane-generating_microbe_can_grow_on_toxic_sulfite_without_becoming_poisoned%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Methane-generating microbe can grow on toxic sulfite without becoming poisoned&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/methane-generating-microbe-can-grow-on-toxic-sulfite-without-becoming-poisoned\/#A_toxic_base_for_growth\" >A toxic base for growth<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/methane-generating-microbe-can-grow-on-toxic-sulfite-without-becoming-poisoned\/#A_molecular_snapshot_of_the_process\" >A molecular snapshot of the process<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/methane-generating-microbe-can-grow-on-toxic-sulfite-without-becoming-poisoned\/#Biotechnological_applications_in_view\" >Biotechnological applications in view<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CMethane-generating_microbe_can_grow_on_toxic_sulfite_without_becoming_poisoned%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Methane-generating microbe can grow on toxic sulfite without becoming poisoned&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2023\/turning-a-poison-into.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2023\/turning-a-poison-into.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Illustration of Fsr\u2019s catalytic site where sulfite gets reduced to sulfide. The siroheme (in pink) that binds and converts the sulfite is embedded in a cavity of the protein (gray surface) which is solvent accessible. This way, the sulfite can easily enter the protein and the produced sulfide can leave it. Credit: Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2023\/turning-a-poison-into.jpg\" alt=\"Turning a poison into food\" title=\"Illustration of Fsr\u2019s catalytic site where sulfite gets reduced to sulfide. The siroheme (in pink) that binds and converts the sulfite is embedded in a cavity of the protein (gray surface) which is solvent accessible. This way, the sulfite can easily enter the protein and the produced sulfide can leave it. Credit: Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Illustration of Fsr\u2019s catalytic site where sulfite gets reduced to sulfide. The siroheme (in pink) that binds and converts the sulfite is embedded in a cavity of the protein (gray surface) which is solvent accessible. This way, the sulfite can easily enter the protein and the produced sulfide can leave it. Credit: Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology reveal how a methane-generating microbe can grow on toxic sulfite without becoming poisoned.<\/p>\n<section class=\"article-banner first-banner ads-336x280\"><!-- \/4988204\/Phys_Story_InText_Box --><br \/>\n      <\/section>\n<p>Methanogens are microorganisms that produce methane when little or no oxygen is present in their surroundings. Their methane production\u2014for example in the digestive tract of ruminants\u2014is relevant for global carbon cycling, as methane is a very potent greenhouse gas, but can also be used as an energy source to heat our houses.\n<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_toxic_base_for_growth\"><\/span>A toxic base for growth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The object of the study now published in <i>Nature Chemical Biology<\/i> are two marine heat-loving methanogens: Methanothermococcus thermolithotrophicus (lives in geothermally heated sediments at around 65 \u00b0C) and Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (prefers deep-sea volcanos with around 85 \u00b0C). They obtain their cellular energy by producing methane and receive sulfur for growth in form of sulfide, that is present in their environments.<\/p>\n<p>While sulfide is a poison for most organisms, it is essential for methanogens and they can tolerate even high concentrations of it. However, their Achilles&#8217; heel is the toxic and reactive sulfur compound sulfite, which destroys the enzyme needed to make methane. In their environments, both investigated organisms are occasionally exposed to sulfite, for example, when oxygen enters and reacts with the reduced sulfide. Its partial oxidation results in the formation of sulfite, and thus the methanogens need to protect themselves. But how can they do this?\n<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_molecular_snapshot_of_the_process\"><\/span>A molecular snapshot of the process<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Marion Jespersen and Tristan Wagner from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, together with Antonio Pierik from the University of Kaiserslautern, now provide a snapshot of the enzyme detoxifying the sulfite. This butterfly-shaped enzyme is known as the F<sub>420<\/sub>-dependent sulfite reductase or Fsr. It is capable of turning sulfite into sulfide\u2014a safe source of sulfur that the methanogens require for growth. In the current study, Jespersen and her colleagues describe how the enzyme works.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The enzyme traps the sulfite and directly reduces it to sulfide, which can be incorporated, for example, into amino acids,&#8221; Jespersen explains. &#8220;As a result, the methanogen doesn&#8217;t get poisoned and even uses the product as its sulfur source. They turn poison into food.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>It sounds simple. But in fact, Jespersen and her colleagues found that they were dealing with a fascinating and complicated overlap. &#8220;There are two ways of sulfite reduction: dissimilatory and assimilatory,&#8221; Jespersen explains. &#8220;The organism under study uses an enzyme that is built like a dissimilatory one, but it uses an assimilatory mechanism. It combines the best of both worlds, one could say, at least for its living conditions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>It is assumed that the enzymes from both the dissimilatory and the assimilatory pathway have evolved from one common ancestor. &#8220;Sulfite reductases are ancient enzymes that have a major impact on the global sulfur and carbon cycles,&#8221; adds Tristan Wagner, head of the Max Planck Research Group Microbial Metabolism at the Max Planck Institute in Bremen. &#8220;Our enzyme, the Fsr, is probably a snapshot of this ancient primordial enzyme, an exciting look back in evolution.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Biotechnological_applications_in_view\"><\/span>Biotechnological applications in view<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Fsr not only opens up evolutionary implications but also allows us to better understand the fascinating world of marine microbes. Methanogens that can grow only on sulfite circumvent the need to use the dangerous sulfide, their usual sulfur substrate. &#8220;This opens opportunities for safer biotechnological <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>lications to study these important microorganisms. An optimal solution would be to find a methanogen that reduces sulfate, which is cheap, abundant, and a completely safe sulfur source,&#8221; says Wagner.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, this methanogen already exists, it is Methanothermococcus thermolithotrophicus. The researchers hypothesized that Fsr orchestrates the last reaction of this sulfate reduction pathway, because one of its inter<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>tes would be sulfite. &#8220;Our next challenge is to understand how it can transform sulfate to sulfite, to get a complete picture of the capabilities of these miracle microbes.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-main__more p-4\">\n<p><strong>More information:<\/strong><br \/>\n                                                Tristan Wagner, Structures of the sulfite detoxifying F420-dependent enzyme from Methanococcales, <i>Nature Chemical Biology<\/i> (2023).  <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-doi=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1038\/s41589-022-01232-y\">DOI: 10.1038\/s41589-022-01232-y<\/a>. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41589-022-01232-y\">www.nature.com\/articles\/s41589-022-01232-y<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium mt-4\">\n<p>                                                    Provided by<br \/>\n                                                                                                            Max Planck Society<br \/>\n                                                                                                                <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mpg.de\/english\/portal\/index.html\"><br \/>\n                                                            <svg><use href=\"https:\/\/phys.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v6\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>                                                <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                Methane-generating microbe can grow on toxic sulfite without becoming poisoned (2023, January 19)<br \/>\n                                                retrieved 19 January 2023<br \/>\n                                                from https:\/\/phys.org\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2023-01-methane-generating-microbe-toxic-sulfite-poisoned.html<\/p>\n<p>                                             This document is subject to copyright. 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The siroheme (in pink) that binds and converts the sulfite is embedded in a cavity of the protein (gray surface) which is solvent accessible. This way, the sulfite can easily enter the protein and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":540982,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2023\/turning-a-poison-into.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-540981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/540981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=540981"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/540981\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/540982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=540981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=540981"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=540981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}