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Taxis toward hydrogen gas by Methanococcus maripaludis
Kristen A Brileya1, James M Connolly, Carey Downey
11] Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA [2] Department of Microbiology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA [3] ENIGMA (http://enigma.lbl.gov) [4].
Scientific Reports
|November 6, 2013
Summary
Methanogens can sense and swim towards hydrogen gas, a behavior called hydrogenotaxis. This study provides the first direct evidence of this directed movement in any life form.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Archaea
- Chemotaxis
Background:
- Directed swimming (taxis) in Archaea is an expanding field.
- The ability of cells to sense and move towards hydrogen gas has long been hypothesized but not demonstrated.
- Understanding microbial navigation is crucial for ecological roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate and observe hydrogenotaxis in a methanogenic archaeon.
- To provide the first direct evidence of hydrogen gas sensing coupled to motility in any domain of life.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a capillary assay with anoxic gas-phase control.
- Employed time-lapse microscopy to track cell movement.
- Quantified changes in swimming velocity in response to a hydrogen gas source.
Main Results:
- Observed a significant increase in average swimming velocity in the direction of hydrogen gas for Methanococcus maripaludis.
- Demonstrated that this methanogen couples motility to hydrogen concentration sensing.
- This is the first direct observation of hydrogenotaxis in any domain of life.
Conclusions:
- Hydrogenotaxis is a demonstrated strategy in methanogens.
- This capability provides a competitive advantage for microorganisms utilizing hydrogen gas.
- Hydrogenotaxis has potential impacts on global carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen cycles.
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