PETROX - Petroleum Alkane oxidation by Anaerobic Archaea

PETROX - 厌氧古菌氧化石油烷烃

• 批准号: 530009334
• 负责人: Dr. Tristan Wagner
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Zentrum für Marine Umweltwissenschaften (MARUM)
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 资助国家: 德国
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/530009334?language=en
• 关键词: PETROX; Petroleum; Alkane; oxidation; Anaerobic

Petroleum n-alkanes are a major compound class in crude oil, and their abundance determines the oils’ fluidity and exploitability. Petroleum alkanes are also an attractive energy and carbon source for aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. This proposal aims at resolving the functioning of the anaerobic, petroleum-alkane oxidizing archaea using recently obtained, unique cultures of Candidatus Alkanophaga (a relative of the ANME-1 archaea) and Candidatus Ca. Cerberiarchaeum (a member of the deep-branching Hadarchaea). Both organisms grow with Thermodesulfobacteria as sulfate-reducing partners. The archaea activate mid- to long-chain n-alkanes (C6-C20) with alkyl coenzyme M reductases, divergent variants of methyl coenzyme M reductase, the enzyme known to generate or capture methane. The archaea are likely key players in subsurface oil transformations and have intriguing uncharted biochemistry. In the presented project PETROX, we will resolve the functioning of petroleum alkane degradation in archaea. Centralized around a 31/2-year PhD project, we will (I) optimize the growth conditions from both cultures and determine the strategies of the archaea and their partner to adapt to the solvent-like substrate (II) resolve the molecular basis of petroleum alkane activation via ACR using native crystallization (III) assess the interaction of the archaea with their bacterial partners in physiological experiments, stable isotope probing experiments and ultrastructural analyses. We combine our expertise in anaerobic hydrocarbon microbiology and biochemistry, and collaborate with experts in visualization techniques. This project will provide fundamental knowledge on the functioning of members from the subsurface microbiome, the enzyme mechanistic to activate long-chain alkanes and syntrophic interactions.

石油正构烷烃是原油中的主要化合物类别，其丰度决定了石油的流动性和可开采性。石油烷烃对于需氧和厌氧微生物来说也是一种有吸引力的能量和碳源。该提案旨在利用最近获得的 Candidatus Alkanophaga（ANME-1 古菌的亲戚）和 Candidatus Ca 的独特培养物来解决厌氧、石油烷氧化古菌的功能。 Cerberiarchaeum（深分支 Hadarchaea 的成员）。这两种生物体都与作为硫酸盐还原伙伴的热脱硫细菌一起生长。古细菌用烷基辅酶 M 还原酶（甲基辅酶 M 还原酶的不同变体，已知能产生或捕获甲烷）激活中长链正构烷烃 (C6-C20)。古细菌可能是地下石油转化的关键参与者，并且具有有趣的未知生物化学特征。在提出的 PETROX 项目中，我们将解决古细菌中石油烷烃降解的功能。以 31/2 年的博士项目为中心，我们将 (I) 优化两种培养物的生长条件，并确定古细菌及其伙伴适应溶剂样底物的策略 (II) 使用天然结晶通过 ACR 解决石油烷活化的分子基础 (III) 评估古细菌与其细菌伙伴在生理实验、稳定同位素探测实验和 超微结构分析。我们结合了厌氧碳氢化合物微生物学和生物化学方面的专业知识，并与可视化技术专家合作。该项目将提供有关地下微生物组成员功能、激活长链烷烃的酶机制和互养相互作用的基础知识。