DOE PAGES title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Anaerobic Oxidation of Ethane, Propane, and Butane by Marine Microbes: A Mini Review

Journal Article · · Frontiers in Microbiology
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (United States); Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO (United States)
  2. Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (United States)

The deep ocean and its sediments are a continuous source of non-methane short-chain alkanes (SCAs) including ethane, propane, and butane. Their high global warming potential, and contribution to local carbon and sulfur budgets has drawn significant scientific attention. Importantly, microbes can use gaseous alkanes and oxidize them to CO2, thus acting as effective biofilters. A relative decrease of these gases with a concomitant 13C enrichment of propane and n-butane in interstitial waters vs. the source suggests microbial anaerobic oxidation. The reported uncoupling of sulfate-reduction (SR) from anaerobic methane oxidation supports their microbial consumption. To date, strain BuS5 isolated from the sediments of Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California, is the only pure culture that can anaerobically degrade propane and n-butane. This organism belongs to a metabolically diverse cluster within the Deltaproteobacteria called Desulfosarcina/Desulfococcus. Other phylotypes involved in gaseous alkane degradation were identified based on stable-isotope labeling and fluorescence in-situ hybridization. A novel syntrophic association of the archaeal genus, Candidatus Syntrophoarchaeum, and a thermophilic SR bacterium, HotSeep-1 was recently discovered from the Guaymas basin, Gulf of California that can anaerobically oxidize n-butane. Strikingly, metagenomic data and the draft genomes of ca. Syntrophoarchaeum suggest that this organism uses a novel mechanism for n-butane oxidation, distinct from the well-established fumarate addition mechanism. These recent findings indicate that a lot remains to be understood about our understanding of anaerobic SCA degradation. This mini-review summarizes our current understanding of microbial anaerobic SCA degradation, and provides an outlook for future research.

Research Organization:
Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0014613
OSTI ID:
1510493
Journal Information:
Frontiers in Microbiology, Journal Name: Frontiers in Microbiology Vol. 8; ISSN 1664-302X
Publisher:
Frontiers Research FoundationCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (121)

Oil Biodegradation and Bioremediation: A Tale of the Two Worst Spills in U.S. History journal August 2011
Anaerobic oxidation of short-chain hydrocarbons by marine sulphate-reducing bacteria journal September 2007
Anaerobic Initial Reaction of n-Alkanes in a Denitrifying Bacterium: Evidence for (1-Methylpentyl)succinate as Initial Product and for Involvement of an Organic Radical in n-Hexane Metabolism journal March 2001
Evidence That Anaerobic Oxidation of Toluene in the Denitrifying Bacterium Thauera aromatica is Initiated by Formation of Benzylsuccinate from Toluene and Fumarate journal June 1996
Identification of Novel Methane-, Ethane-, and Propane-Oxidizing Bacteria at Marine Hydrocarbon Seeps by Stable Isotope Probing journal July 2010
Enzymes involved in the anaerobic oxidation of n-alkanes: from methane to long-chain paraffins journal January 2013
Metagenomic analysis and metabolite profiling of deep–sea sediments from the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill journal January 2013
Carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation associated with the aerobic microbial oxidation of methane, ethane, propane and butane journal January 2007
MEGA7: Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis Version 7.0 for Bigger Datasets journal March 2016
Unravelling the impact of hydrocarbon structure on the fumarate addition mechanism – a gas-phase ab initio study journal January 2015
Diversity of Benzyl- and Alkylsuccinate Synthase Genes in Hydrocarbon-Impacted Environments and Enrichment Cultures journal October 2010
An Improved General Amino Acid Replacement Matrix journal April 2008
The anaerobic oxidation of methane and sulfate reduction in sediments from Gulf of Mexico cold seeps journal May 2004
Earth's Degassing: A Missing Ethane and Propane Source journal January 2009
High Diversity of Anaerobic Alkane-Degrading Microbial Communities in Marine Seep Sediments Based on (1-methylalkyl)succinate Synthase Genes journal January 2016
Molecular survey of sulphate-reducing bacteria in the deep-sea sediments of the west Pacific Warm Pool journal July 2008
Genes encoding the candidate enzyme for anaerobic activation of n-alkanes in the denitrifying bacterium, strain HxN1 journal February 2008
Three-dimensional model synthesis of the global methane cycle journal January 1991
Anaerobic degradation of naphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene by strains of marine sulfate-reducing bacteria journal January 2009
Field and laboratory studies on the bioconversion of coal to methane in the San Juan Basin journal January 2012
Field and laboratory studies on the bioconversion of coal to methane in the San Juan Basin journal January 2012
Exxon Valdez Vs. Deepwater Horizon: ES&T’s Top Feature Article 2011 journal March 2012
Earth's Degassing: A Missing Ethane and Propane Source journal January 2009
Marine microorganisms make a meal of oil journal March 2006
Microbial Communities in Methane- and Short Chain Alkane-Rich Hydrothermal Sediments of Guaymas Basin journal January 2016
Extensive regional atmospheric hydrocarbon pollution in the southwestern United States journal October 2003
Desulfotomaculum spp. and related gram-positive sulfate-reducing bacteria in deep subsurface environments journal January 2013
Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane: Progress with an Unknown Process journal October 2009
Microbial degradation of hydrocarbons in the environment journal September 1990
Natural seabed gas seeps as sources of atmospheric methane journal June 2004
Ubiquitous Presence and Novel Diversity of Anaerobic Alkane Degraders in Cold Marine Sediments journal December 2015
Biodegradation of low-molecular-weight alkanes under mesophilic, sulfate-reducing conditions: metabolic intermediates and community patterns: n-Propane and n-pentane degradation by sulfate reducers journal March 2010
Anaerobic activation of toluene and o-xylene by addition to fumarate in denitrifying strain T. journal February 1997
Anaerobic degradation of naphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene by strains of marine sulfate-reducing bacteria journal January 2009
The anaerobic oxidation of methane and sulfate reduction in sediments from Gulf of Mexico cold seeps journal May 2004
Observed and simulated global distribution and budget of atmospheric C 2 -C 5 alkanes journal January 2010
Thermophilic archaea activate butane via alkyl-coenzyme M formation journal October 2016
Quantifying carbon sources in the formation of authigenic carbonates at gas hydrate sites in the Gulf of Mexico journal May 2004
Oceanic Methane Biogeochemistry journal February 2007
Experiments with some Microorganisms Which Utilize Ethane and Hydrogen1 journal January 1958
Anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to nitrate reduction in a novel archaeal lineage journal July 2013
Isolation and characterization of a novel oxygenase that catalyzes the first step of n-alkane oxidation in Acinetobacter sp. strain M-1. journal July 1996
Molecular survey of sulphate-reducing bacteria in the deep-sea sediments of the west Pacific Warm Pool journal July 2008
Identification of Novel Methane-, Ethane-, and Propane-Oxidizing Bacteria at Marine Hydrocarbon Seeps by Stable Isotope Probing journal July 2010
Enhanced Gene Detection Assays for Fumarate-Adding Enzymes Allow Uncovering of Anaerobic Hydrocarbon Degraders in Terrestrial and Marine Systems journal November 2012
Isolation and characterization of a novel oxygenase that catalyzes the first step of n-alkane oxidation in Acinetobacter sp. strain M-1. journal July 1996
Anaerobic Oxidation of n-Dodecane by an Addition Reaction in a Sulfate-Reducing Bacterial Enrichment Culture journal December 2000
Enzymes involved in the anaerobic oxidation of n-alkanes: from methane to long-chain paraffins journal January 2013
Impact of natural oil and higher hydrocarbons on microbial diversity, distribution, and activity in Gulf of Mexico cold-seep sediments text January 2010
Carbon and hydrogen stable isotope fractionation associated with the anaerobic degradation of propane and butane by marine sulfate-reducing bacteria: Degradation of gaseous alkanes - isotope fractionation journal September 2013
Geomicrobiological linkages between short-chain alkane consumption and sulfate reduction rates in seep sediments journal January 2013
Oceanic Methane Biogeochemistry journal May 2007
Carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation associated with the aerobic microbial oxidation of methane, ethane, propane and butane journal January 2007
Anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to nitrate reduction in a novel archaeal lineage journal July 2013
Anaerobic Oxidation of n-Dodecane by an Addition Reaction in a Sulfate-Reducing Bacterial Enrichment Culture journal December 2000
Biological formation of ethane and propane in the deep marine subsurface journal September 2006
Anaerobic oxidation of short-chain alkanes in hydrothermal sediments: potential influences on sulfur cycling and microbial diversity journal January 2013
Anaerobic activation of toluene and o-xylene by addition to fumarate in denitrifying strain T. journal February 1997
Biological formation of ethane and propane in the deep marine subsurface journal September 2006
Using Natural Abundance Radiocarbon To Trace the Flux of Petrocarbon to the Seafloor Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill journal December 2014
Diverse sulfate-reducing bacteria of the Desulfosarcina/Desulfococcus clade are the key alkane degraders at marine seeps journal April 2014
Alkane degradation under anoxic conditions by a nitrate-reducing bacterium with possible involvement of the electron acceptor in substrate activation: Alkane degradation with nitrate journal February 2011
The anaerobic degradation of gaseous, nonmethane alkanes — From in situ processes to microorganisms journal January 2015
Degradation of alkanes by bacteria journal October 2009
Metagenomic analysis and metabolite profiling of deep–sea sediments from the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill journal January 2013
Microbial Ecology of the Dark Ocean above, at, and below the Seafloor journal June 2011
Comparison of Mechanisms of Alkane Metabolism under Sulfate-Reducing Conditions among Two Bacterial Isolates and a Bacterial Consortium journal June 2006
Sulphate-reducing bacteria from oil field environments and deep-sea hydrothermal vents book May 2007
Distributions of Microbial Activities in Deep Subseafloor Sediments journal December 2004
Evidence that crude oil alkane activation proceeds by different mechanisms under sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions journal May 2013
Microbial Ecology of the Dark Ocean above, at, and below the Seafloor journal June 2011
Anaerobic degradation of n -hexane in a denitrifying bacterium: Further degradation of the initial intermediate (1-methylpentyl)succinate via C-skeleton rearrangement journal March 2002
Mineralization of organic matter in the sea bed—the role of sulphate reduction journal April 1982
Nature and Extent of the Deep Biosphere journal January 2013
Anaerobic degradation of propane and butane by sulfate-reducing bacteria enriched from marine hydrocarbon cold seeps journal December 2012
Enhanced Gene Detection Assays for Fumarate-Adding Enzymes Allow Uncovering of Anaerobic Hydrocarbon Degraders in Terrestrial and Marine Systems journal November 2012
Genes encoding the candidate enzyme for anaerobic activation of n-alkanes in the denitrifying bacterium, strain HxN1 journal February 2008
Anaerobic alkane-degrading strain AK-01 contains two alkylsuccinate synthase genes journal February 2008
Growth of Pseudomonas chloritidismutans AW-1T on n-alkanes with chlorate as electron acceptor journal April 2009
Distributions of Microbial Activities in Deep Subseafloor Sediments journal December 2004
Light nonmethane hydrocarbons in seawater journal March 1995
In situ detection of anaerobic alkane metabolites in subsurface environments journal January 2013
Degradation of alkanes by bacteria journal October 2009
Microbial degradation of hydrocarbons in the environment. journal January 1990
Acetone in the atmosphere: Distribution, sources, and sinks journal January 1994
Anaerobic alkane-degrading strain AK-01 contains two alkylsuccinate synthase genes journal February 2008
Quantifying carbon sources in the formation of authigenic carbonates at gas hydrate sites in the Gulf of Mexico journal May 2004
Ubiquitous Presence and Novel Diversity of Anaerobic Alkane Degraders in Cold Marine Sediments journal December 2015
Desulfotomaculum spp. and related gram-positive sulfate-reducing bacteria in deep subsurface environments journal January 2013
Evidence that crude oil alkane activation proceeds by different mechanisms under sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions journal May 2013
Microbial communities involved in anaerobic degradation of alkanes journal January 2011
Impact of natural oil and higher hydrocarbons on microbial diversity, distribution, and activity in Gulf of Mexico cold-seep sediments journal November 2010
Obligate oil-degrading marine bacteria journal June 2007
Anaerobic Initial Reaction of n-Alkanes in a Denitrifying Bacterium: Evidence for (1-Methylpentyl)succinate as Initial Product and for Involvement of an Organic Radical in n-Hexane Metabolism journal March 2001
Weak coupling between sulfate reduction and the anaerobic oxidation of methane in methane-rich seafloor sediments during ex situ incubation journal January 2011
Biocorrosive Thermophilic Microbial Communities in Alaskan North Slope Oil Facilities journal October 2009
Anaerobic degradation of propane and butane by sulfate-reducing bacteria enriched from marine hydrocarbon cold seeps journal December 2012
Carbon and hydrogen stable isotope fractionation associated with the anaerobic degradation of propane and butane by marine sulfate-reducing bacteria: Degradation of gaseous alkanes - isotope fractionation journal September 2013
Microbiological investigation of methane- and hydrocarbon-discharging mud volcanoes in the Carpathian Mountains, Romania journal April 2006
Comparison of Mechanisms of Alkane Metabolism under Sulfate-Reducing Conditions among Two Bacterial Isolates and a Bacterial Consortium journal June 2006
Nature and Extent of the Deep Biosphere journal January 2013
Mineralization of organic matter in the sea bed—the role of sulphate reduction journal April 1982
Free hydrocarbon gas, gas hydrate, and authigenic minerals in chemosynthetic communities of the northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope: relation to microbial processes journal May 2004
Growth of Pseudomonas chloritidismutans AW-1T on n-alkanes with chlorate as electron acceptor journal April 2009
Bacterial methane oxidation in sea-floor gas hydrate: Significance to life in extreme environments journal January 1998
Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of the pathogenic fungus Ilyonectria destructans journal February 2022
Formation of n-alkane- and cycloalkane-derived organic acids during anaerobic growth of a denitrifying bacterium with crude oil journal September 2003
Methane formation from long-chain alkanes by anaerobic microorganisms journal September 1999
Methane formation from long-chain alkanes by anaerobic microorganisms journal September 1999
Correction: Unravelling the impact of hydrocarbon structure on the fumarate addition mechanism – a gas-phase ab initio study journal January 2018
Free hydrocarbon gas, gas hydrate, and authigenic minerals in chemosynthetic communities of the northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope: relation to microbial processes journal May 2004
Hydrocarbon geochemistry of cold seeps in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary journal March 2002
Microbial Communities in Methane- and Short Chain Alkane-Rich Hydrothermal Sediments of Guaymas Basin journal January 2016
Methanogenesis, sulfate reduction and crude oil biodegradation in hot Alaskan oilfields: Methanogenic crude oil biodegradation in hot oilfields journal November 2010
Weak coupling between sulfate reduction and the anaerobic oxidation of methane in methane-rich seafloor sediments during ex situ incubation journal January 2011
Diversity of Benzyl- and Alkylsuccinate Synthase Genes in Hydrocarbon-Impacted Environments and Enrichment Cultures journal October 2010
Global distribution of microbial abundance and biomass in subseafloor sediment journal August 2012
Anaerobic bacterial metabolism of hydrocarbons journal December 1998
Microbiological investigation of methane- and hydrocarbon-discharging mud volcanoes in the Carpathian Mountains, Romania journal April 2006
Biochemistry of the Anaerobic Degradation of Non-Methane Alkanes book January 2010
Global distribution of microbial abundance and biomass in subseafloor sediment journal August 2012

Cited By (2)