skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Methanogens: Syntrophic Metabolism

Other ·
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [4];  [5]
  1. Univ. of Minnesota, Duluth, MN (United States)
  2. Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States)
  3. Univ. Konstanz, Konstanz (Germany)
  4. Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
  5. Wageningen Univ. & Research, Wageningen (The Netherlands). Lab. of Microbiology
+ Show Author Affiliations

Syntrophy is a mutualistic interaction in which two metabolically different types of microorganisms are linked by the need to keep metabolites exchanged between the two partners at low concentrations to make the overall metabolism of both organisms feasible. In most cases, the cooperation is based on the transfer of hydrogen, formate, or acetate from fermentative bacteria to methanogens to make the degradation of electron-rich substrates thermodynamically favorable. Syntrophic metabolism proceeds at very low Gibbs’ free energy changes, close to the minimum free energy change needed to conserve energy biologically, which is the energy needed to transport one proton across the cytoplasmic membrane. Pathways for syntrophic degradation of fatty acids predict the net synthesis of about one-third of an ATP per round of catabolism. Syntrophic metabolism entails critical oxidation-reduction reactions in which H2 or formate production would be thermodynamically unfavorable unless energy is invested. Molecular insights into the membrane processes involved in ion translocation and reverse electron transport revealed that syntrophs harbour multiple systems for reverse electron transfer. While much evidence supports the interspecies transfer of H2 and formate, other mechanisms of interspecies electron transfer exist including cysteine cycling and possibly direct interspecies electron transfer as electric current via conductive pili or (semi)conductive minerals.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division; German Research Foundation (DFG)
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-96ER20214
OSTI ID:
1774023
Resource Relation:
Related Information: Biogenesis of Hydrocarbons. ISBN 978-3-319-53114-4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (134)

The biotin-dependent sodium ion pump glutaconyl-CoA decarboxylase from Fusobacterium nucleatum (subsp. nucleatum): Comparison with the glutaconyl-CoA decarboxylases from gram-positive bacteria journal September 1990
Benzoyl-CoA Reductase (Dearomatizing), A Key Enzyme of Anaerobic Aromatic Metabolism. A Study of Adenosinetriphosphatase Activity, ATP Stoichiometry of the Reaction and EPR Properties of the Enzyme journal March 1997
Identification and characterization of the natural electron donor ferredoxin and of FAD as a possible prosthetic group of benzoyl-CoA reductase (dearomatizing), a key enzyme of anaerobic aromatic metabolism journal February 1998
Unusual Spectroscopic and Electrochemical Properties of the 2[4Fe-4S] Ferredoxin of Thauera aromatica † , ‡ journal April 2000
4-Hydroxybenzoyl-CoA reductase (dehydroxylating) from the denitrifying bacterium Thauera aromatica . Prosthetic groups, electron donor, and genes of a member of the molybdenum-flavin-iron-sulfur proteins journal February 1998
Energy conservation via electron bifurcating ferredoxin reduction and proton/Na+ translocating ferredoxin oxidation journal February 2013
Syntrophobacter sulfatireducens sp. nov., a novel syntrophic, propionate-oxidizing bacterium isolated from UASB reactors journal May 2005
Promoting Interspecies Electron Transfer with Biochar journal May 2014
Estimates of Biogenic Methane Production Rates in Deep Marine Sediments at Hydrate Ridge, Cascadia Margin journal March 2008
Gas Metabolism Evidence in Support of the Juxtaposition of Hydrogen-Producing and Methanogenic Bacteria in Sewage Sludge and Lake Sediments journal January 1985
Membrane Complexes of Syntrophomonas wolfei Involved in Syntrophic Butyrate Degradation and Hydrogen Formation journal November 2016
Pathway of Propionate Oxidation by a Syntrophic Culture of Smithella propionica andMethanospirillum hungatei journal April 2001
Biochemical Evidence for Formate Transfer in Syntrophic Propionate-Oxidizing Cocultures of Syntrophobacter fumaroxidans and Methanospirillum hungatei journal September 2002
Hydrogenases and formate dehydrogenases of Syntrophobacter fumaroxidans journal December 2002
Two W-containing formate dehydrogenases (CO2-reductases) involved in syntrophic propionate oxidation by Syntrophobacter fumaroxidans journal June 2003
The first true obligately syntrophic propionate-oxidizing bacterium, Pelotomaculum schinkii sp. nov., co-cultured with Methanospirillum hungatei, and emended description of the genus Pelotomaculum
  • de Bok, Frank A. M.; Harmsen, Hermie J. M.; Plugge, Caroline M.
  • International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, Vol. 55, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.02880-0
journal July 2005
Butyrate oxidation by Syntrophospora bryantii in co-culture with different methanogens and in pure culture with pentenoate as electron acceptor journal December 1994
Evidence for H2 and formate formation during syntrophic butyrate and propionate degradation journal February 1995
Bioenergetic Conditions of Butyrate Metabolism by a Syntrophic, Anaerobic Bacterium in Coculture with Hydrogen-Oxidizing Methanogenic and Sulfidogenic Bacteria † journal January 1988
Metabolism of Benzoate, Cyclohex-1-ene Carboxylate, and Cyclohexane Carboxylate by "Syntrophus aciditrophicus" Strain SB in Syntrophic Association with H2-Using Microorganisms journal April 2001
Hydrogen formation from glycolate driven by reversed electron transport in membrane vesicles of a syntrophic glycolate-oxidizing bacterium journal October 1993
Electron transport phosphorylation driven by glyoxylate respiration with hydrogen as electron donor in membrane vesicles of a glyoxylate-fermenting bacterium journal April 1995
Phylogenetic Positions of Desulfofustis glycolicus gen. nov., sp. nov. and Syntrophobotulus glycolicus gen. nov., sp. nov., Two New Strict Anaerobes Growing with Glycolic Acid journal October 1996
Anaerobic degradation of 4-hydroxybenzoate: Reductive dehydroxylation of 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA and ATP formation during 4-hydroxybenzoate decarboxylation by the phenol-metabolizing bacteria of a stable, strictly anaerobic consortium journal November 1994
Oxidation of acetate through reactions of the citric acid cycle by Geobacter sulfurreducens in pure culture and in syntrophic coculture journal November 2000
4-Hydroxybenzoate-coenzyme A ligase from Rhodopseudomonas palustris: purification, gene sequence, and role in anaerobic degradation. journal February 1994
4-hydroxybenzoyl coenzyme A reductase (dehydroxylating) is required for anaerobic degradation of 4-hydroxybenzoate by Rhodopseudomonas palustris and shares features with molybdenum-containing hydroxylases. journal February 1997
Electrically conductive bacterial nanowires produced by Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1 and other microorganisms journal July 2006
Syntrophobacter fumaroxidans sp. nov., a syntrophic propionate-degrading sulfate-reducing bacterium journal October 1998
Anaerobic metabolism of aromatic compounds via the benzoyl-CoA pathway journal December 1998
Thermacetogenium phaeum gen. nov., sp. nov., a strictly anaerobic, thermophilic, syntrophic acetate-oxidizing bacterium journal July 2000
Syntrophic Acetate-Oxidizing Microbes in Methanogenic Environments journal January 2008
Physiology and Biochemistry of the Methane-Producing Archaea book January 2006
Anaerobic Metabolism of Aromatic Compounds journal February 1997
Microbial Anaerobic Aromatic Metabolism journal February 1997
Phenylglyoxylate : NAD+ oxidoreductase (CoA benzoylating), a new enzyme of anaerobic phenylalanine metabolism in the denitrifying bacterium Azoarcus evansii journal February 1998
Biological energy requirements as quantitative boundary conditions for life in the subsurface journal October 2004
Enzymatic evidence for involvement of the methylmalonyl-CoA pathway in propionate oxidation by Syntrophobacter wolinii journal December 1990
Coaggregation Facilitates Interspecies Hydrogen Transfer between Pelotomaculum thermopropionicum and Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus journal December 2005
Syntrophus aciditrophicus sp. nov., a new anaerobic bacterium that degrades fatty acids and benzoate in syntrophic association with hydrogen-using microorganisms journal January 1999
Anaerobic microbial metabolism can proceed close to thermodynamic limits journal January 2002
Pyrophosphate-Dependent ATP Formation from Acetyl Coenzyme A in Syntrophus aciditrophicus , a New Twist on ATP Formation journal August 2016
Cysteine-mediated electron transfer in syntrophic acetate oxidation by cocultures of Geobacter sulfurreducens and Wolinella succinogenes journal July 2002
Fermentative metabolism of substituted monoaromatic compounds by a bacterial community from anaerobic sediments journal January 1982
Substrate-dependent transcriptomic shifts in Pelotomaculum thermopropionicum grown in syntrophic co-culture with Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus journal September 2009
Methanogenesis facilitated by electric syntrophy via (semi)conductive iron-oxide minerals: Methanogenesis via (semi)conductive minerals journal October 2011
Microbial interspecies electron transfer via electric currents through conductive minerals journal June 2012
Butyrate- and propionate-degrading syntrophs from permanently cold marine sediments in Skan Bay, Alaska, and description of Algorimarina butyrica gen. nov., sp. nov. journal September 2006
The genome of Pelotomaculum thermopropionicum reveals niche-associated evolution in anaerobic microbiota journal February 2008
Syntrophococcus sucromutans sp. nov. gen. nov. uses carbohydrates as electron donors and formate, methoxymonobenzenoids or Methanobrevibacter as electron acceptor systems journal January 1986
Identification and characterization of the tungsten-containing class of benzoyl-coenzyme A reductases journal October 2009
Cyclohexanecarboxyl-Coenzyme A (CoA) and Cyclohex-1-ene-1-Carboxyl-CoA Dehydrogenases, Two Enzymes Involved in the Fermentation of Benzoate and Crotonate in Syntrophus aciditrophicus journal May 2013
Enzymes Involved in a Novel Anaerobic Cyclohexane Carboxylic Acid Degradation Pathway journal August 2014
6-Oxocyclohex-1-ene-1-carbonyl-coenzyme A hydrolases from obligately anaerobic bacteria: characterization and identification of its gene as a functional marker for aromatic compounds degrading anaerobes: Gene probe for ring-opening hydrolases journal February 2008
Carbon monoxide pathway enzyme activities in a thermophilic anaerobic bacterium grown acetogenically and in a syntrophic acetate-oxidizing coculture journal October 1988
Isolation and Characterization of a Thermophilic Bacterium Which Oxidizes Acetate in Syntrophic Association with a Methanogen and Which Grows Acetogenically on H2-CO2 journal January 1988
Life under extreme energy limitation: a synthesis of laboratory- and field-based investigations journal May 2015
Direct interspecies electron transfer accelerates syntrophic oxidation of butyrate in paddy soil enrichments: Syntrophic butyrate oxidation facilitated by nanoFe journal August 2014
Metabolism of H2 by Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20 during syntrophic growth on lactate journal July 2011
Promoting direct interspecies electron transfer with activated carbon journal January 2012
Characterization of the anaerobic propionate-degrading syntrophs Smithella propionica gen. nov., sp. nov. and Syntrophobacter wolinii journal April 1999
Metabolic, Phylogenetic, and Ecological Diversity of the Methanogenic Archaea journal March 2008
Electricity-producing bacterial communities in microbial fuel cells journal December 2006
Syntrophomonas wolfei subsp. saponavida subsp. nov., a Long-Chain Fatty-Acid-Degrading, Anaerobic, Syntrophic Bacterium; Syntrophomonas wolfei subsp. wolfei subsp. nov.; and Emended Descriptions of the Genus and Species journal April 1989
Humic Substances as a Mediator for Microbially Catalyzed Metal Reduction journal May 1998
Genome-Guided Analysis and Whole Transcriptome Profiling of the Mesophilic Syntrophic Acetate Oxidising Bacterium Syntrophaceticus schinkii journal November 2016
Energetics and Kinetics of Anaerobic Treatment book June 1971
The genome of Syntrophus aciditrophicus: Life at the thermodynamic limit of microbial growth journal April 2007
Physiology, Ecology, Phylogeny, and Genomics of Microorganisms Capable of Syntrophic Metabolism journal March 2008
Involvement of coenzyme A thioesters in anaerobic metabolism of 4-hydroxybenzoate by Rhodopseudomonas palustris. journal January 1989
Acetate oxidation to CO2 via a citric acid cycle involving an ATP-citrate lyase: a mechanism for the synthesis of ATP via substrate level phosphorylation in Desulfobacter postgatei growing on acetate and sulfate journal September 1987
Isolation and characterization of an anaerobic syntrophic benzoate-degrading bacterium from sewage sludge journal January 1982
Cyclohexane Carboxylate and Benzoate Formation from Crotonate in Syntrophus aciditrophicus journal December 2006
Use of benzoate as an electron acceptor by Syntrophus aciditrophicus grown in pure culture with crotonate journal December 2008
Metabolism of Hydroxylated and Fluorinated Benzoates by Syntrophus aciditrophicus and Detection of a Fluorodiene Metabolite journal December 2008
Genome-Guided Analysis of Physiological Capacities of Tepidanaerobacter acetatoxydans Provides Insights into Environmental Adaptations and Syntrophic Acetate Oxidation journal March 2015
Dominant sugar utilizers in sediment of Lake Constance depend on syntrophic cooperation with methanogenic partner organisms: Dominant sugar utilizers in sediment journal January 2008
Syntrophic butyrate and propionate oxidation processes: from genomes to reaction mechanisms: Syntrophic butyrate and propionate oxidation processes journal March 2010
Detecting metabolic activities in single cells, with emphasis on nanoSIMS journal March 2012
An adhesin from hydrogen-utilizing rumen methanogen M ethanobrevibacter ruminantium  M1 binds a broad range of hydrogen-producing microorganisms: Methanogen adhesin binds a broad range of microbes journal January 2016
The genome of S yntrophorhabdus aromaticivorans strain UI provides new insights for syntrophic aromatic compound metabolism and electron flow journal March 2014
Microbial dark matter ecogenomics reveals complex synergistic networks in a methanogenic bioreactor journal January 2015
Genome-guided analysis of physiological and morphological traits of the fermentative acetate oxidizer Thermacetogenium phaeum journal January 2012
Kinetics of anaerobic treatment: A critical review journal January 1991
Cyclohexa-1,5-Diene-1-Carbonyl-Coenzyme A (CoA) Hydratases of Geobacter metallireducens and Syntrophus aciditrophicus: Evidence for a Common Benzoyl-CoA Degradation Pathway in Facultative and Strict Anaerobes journal November 2006
Desulfotomaculum thermobenzoicum subsp. thermosyntrophicum subsp. nov., a thermophilic, syntrophic, propionate-oxidizing, spore-forming bacterium. journal March 2002
Complete genome sequence of Syntrophobacter fumaroxidans strain (MPOBT) journal September 2012
Single-cell analysis reveals gene-expression heterogeneity in syntrophic dual-culture of Desulfovibrio vulgaris with Methanosarcina barkeri journal December 2014
Extracellular electron transfer via microbial nanowires journal June 2005
Unusually High Standard Redox Potential of Acrylyl-CoA/ Propionyl-CoA Couple among Enoyl-CoA/Acyl-CoA Couples: A Reason for the Distinct Metabolic Pathway of Propionyl-CoA from Longer Acyl-CoAs journal October 1999
Energetics of syntrophic fatty acid oxidation journal October 1994
Energetics of syntrophic cooperation in methanogenic degradation. journal January 1997
Anaerobic Degradation of Phenolic Compounds journal January 2000
Syntrophism Among Prokaryotes book January 2013
Hydrogen or formate: Alternative key players in methanogenic degradation: Hydrogen/formate as interspecies electron carriers journal March 2017
A Proteomic View at the Biochemistry of Syntrophic Butyrate Oxidation in Syntrophomonas wolfei journal February 2013
Enzyme activities in and energetics of acetate metabolism by the mesophilic syntrophically acetate-oxidizing anaerobe Clostridium ultunense journal September 1997
Energetics of methanogenic benzoate degradation by Syntrophus gentianae in syntrophic coculture journal July 1997
Membrane-bound proton-translocating pyrophosphatase of Syntrophus gentianae, a syntrophically benzoate-degrading fermenting bacterium journal September 1998
Energetics of Syntrophic Propionate Oxidation in Defined Batch and Chemostat Cocultures journal July 2000
The Iron-Hydrogenase of Thermotoga maritima Utilizes Ferredoxin and NADH Synergistically: a New Perspective on Anaerobic Hydrogen Production journal May 2009
Syntrophothermus lipocalidus gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel thermophilic, syntrophic, fatty-acid-oxidizing anaerobe which utilizes isobutyrate journal March 2000
Syntrophic growth with direct interspecies electron transfer as the primary mechanism for energy exchange: Growth with electrons supplied solely by DIET journal September 2013
Plugging in or going wireless: strategies for interspecies electron transfer journal May 2014
Genomic Insights into Syntrophy: The Paradigm for Anaerobic Metabolic Cooperation journal October 2012
The importance of hydrogen and formate transfer for syntrophic fatty, aromatic and alicyclic metabolism: Importance of interspecies hydrogen and formate transfer journal October 2013
Proteomic analysis reveals metabolic and regulatory systems involved in the syntrophic and axenic lifestyle of Syntrophomonas wolfei journal February 2015
Syntrophomonadaceae book January 2006
Sulfate-dependent acetate oxidation under extremely natron-alkaline conditions by syntrophic associations from hypersaline soda lakes journal April 2014
Syntrophomonas zehnderi sp. nov., an anaerobe that degrades long-chain fatty acids in co-culture with Methanobacterium formicicum journal March 2007
A low phosphorylation potential in the acetogen Acetobacterium woodii reflects its lifestyle at the thermodynamic edge of life journal March 2015
Electron transfer in syntrophic communities of anaerobic bacteria and archaea journal August 2009
Iron metabolism in anoxic environments at near neutral pH journal January 2001
Thermosyntropha lipolytica gen. nov., sp. nov., a Lipolytic, Anaerobic, Alkalitolerant, Thermophilic Bacterium Utilizing Short- and Long-Chain Fatty Acids in Syntrophic Coculture with a Methanogenic Archaeum journal October 1996
Degradation of hydroquinone, gentisate, and benzoate by a fermenting bacterium in pure or defined mixed culture journal May 1989
Energy conservation in chemotrophic anaerobic bacteria. journal January 1977
Purification and characterization of malate dehydrogenase from the syntrophic propionate-oxidizing bacterium strain MPOB journal November 1996
Investigation of the fumarate metabolism of the syntrophic propionate-oxidizing bacterium strain MPOB journal April 1998
Magnetite Particles Triggering a Faster and More Robust Syntrophic Pathway of Methanogenic Propionate Degradation journal June 2014
Interspecies acetate transfer influences the extent of anaerobic benzoate degradation by syntrophic consortia. journal January 1996
A novel mode of lactate metabolism in strictly anaerobic bacteria: A novel mode of lactate metabolism in anaerobes journal May 2014
Going local: technologies for exploring bacterial microenvironments journal April 2013
Tepidanaerobacter acetatoxydans sp. nov., an anaerobic, syntrophic acetate-oxidizing bacterium isolated from two ammonium-enriched mesophilic methanogenic processes journal June 2011
Gene clusters involved in anaerobic benzoate degradation of Geobacter metallireducens: Benzoate metabolism in G. metallireducens journal October 2005
Preparation of cell-free extracts and the enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism in Syntrophomonas wolfei. journal July 1986
Growth- and substrate-dependent transcription of formate dehydrogenase and hydrogenase coding genes in Syntrophobacter fumaroxidans and Methanospirillum hungatei journal September 2010
A genomic view on syntrophic versus non-syntrophic lifestyle in anaerobic fatty acid degrading communities journal December 2014
Syntrophomonas erecta subsp. sporosyntropha subsp. nov., a spore-forming bacterium that degrades short chain fatty acids in co-culture with methanogens journal September 2006
Syntrophomonas cellicola sp. nov., a spore-forming syntrophic bacterium isolated from a distilled-spirit-fermenting cellar, and assignment of Syntrophospora bryantii to Syntrophomonas bryantii comb. nov. journal October 2006
Syntrophomonas wolfei subsp. methylbutyratica subsp. nov., and assignment of Syntrophomonas wolfei subsp. saponavida to Syntrophomonas saponavida sp. nov. comb. nov. journal July 2007
Syntrophomonas curvata sp. nov., an anaerobe that degrades fatty acids in co-culture with methanogens journal May 2004
Syntrophomonas erecta sp. nov., a novel anaerobe that syntrophically degrades short-chain fatty acids journal March 2005
Methanogenesis affected by the co-occurrence of iron(III) oxides and humic substances journal January 2014
Eubacterium acidaminophilum sp. nov., a versatile amino acid-degrading anaerobe producing or utilizing H2 or formate: Description and enzymatic studies journal July 1988

Similar Records

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Syntrophic Metabolism
Reverse Electron Transport
Minimum Free Energy Change
Syntrophic Propionate
Fumaroxidans