Spatial Organization of Methane Oxidation: Rediscovering Fundamentals
EMSL Project ID
48886
Abstract
We rarely think about prokaryotic metabolism as a highly structured system with function-dedicated compartments. It is becoming more apparent that a bag-like representation of microbial metabolism is far from complete. A deeper understanding of a bacterial cell requires a thorough systems-level description of the subcellular network organization (e.g., enzyme complexes and compartments). Methane-consuming proteobacteria (methanotrophs) have a highly structured subcellular organization, which includes formation of specialized compartments (intracytoplasmic membranes, ICM). Recent structural studies have suggested that methane monooxygenase (pMMO) and methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) could interact directly and this cooperation might be facilitated by a specific arrangement in ICMs. A direct coupling between two core enzymes challenges all current fundamental concepts of C1-metabolism. A new and deeper understanding of microbial methane utilization requires a thorough description of the intricate connections between core enzymes, electron transfer chain components, ICMs, and downstream metabolism. The main goal of this project is to generate a comprehensive vision of all structural elements (membrane proteins/enzymes) involved in methane oxidation in a model methanotroph (Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z) using quantitative proteomics. This proposal focuses on improving our understanding of methane oxidation networks in proteobacteria and aims to uncover complex interactions between subcellular organization, metabolic structure, and regulation of the core functions essential for CH4 oxidation.
Understanding the mechanisms of biological methane oxidation will provide new resources for biochemical catalysis, enabling new transformative solutions for environmental problems. Validated models of methane utilization could be incorporated into computational simulations of microbial community and/or entire ecosystem functions which would greatly improve environmental carbon cycle modeling.
Project Details
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2015-10-01
End Date
2017-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator(s)
Team Members