Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 28, 2026
11:02
The Use of an Automated System GreenFeed to Monitor Enteric Methane and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Ruminant Animals
Published on: September 7, 2015
22.2K
Methane yield phenotypes linked to differential gene expression in the sheep rumen microbiome
Weibing Shi1, Christina D Moon2, Sinead C Leahy2
1Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California 94598, USA; Genomic Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA;
Genome Research
|June 8, 2014
Summary
Methane production in sheep varies due to differences in gene activity, not the amount of microbes. Understanding these transcriptional differences offers new strategies for reducing methane emissions from livestock.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Microbiology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Ruminant livestock are a major source of anthropogenic methane emissions.
- Methane is produced by methanogenic archaea in the digestive tracts of ruminants.
- Individual variation in methane production exists but lacks mechanistic explanation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanistic basis for variation in methane production among sheep.
- To determine if differences in microbial abundance or gene activity explain methane yield variation.
Main Methods:
- Methane yields were measured in 22 sheep.
- Deep metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing were employed.
- Abundance of methanogens and transcription of methanogenesis genes were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Methane yields were found to be a reproducible, quantitative trait in sheep.
- High and low methane emitters showed similar abundance of methanogens and methanogenesis genes.
- Transcription of methanogenesis pathway genes was significantly higher in high methane-emitting sheep.
Conclusions:
- Transcriptional regulation, rather than microbial composition, is a key factor in methane yield variation.
- Specific rumen methanogens and their gene transcription profiles correlate with methane production.
- Findings provide targets for mitigating methane (CH4) emissions through microbiota and transcriptional regulation.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Microbes and Methanogenesis
84
Methanogenesis is a critical microbial process in anaerobic ecosystems responsible for the biological production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and valuable biofuel. This metabolic pathway is primarily facilitated by methanogenic archaea, which thrive in anoxic environments such as wetlands, sediments, and animal gastrointestinal tracts. The absence of oxygen in these habitats prevents aerobic respiration, thereby favoring alternative biochemical pathways for organic matter degradation.In...
84
01:27Microbiota of the Large Intestine
96
The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...
96
01:23Stringent Response in E. coli
526
Bacterial growth is closely tied to nutrient availability, with cells proliferating exponentially under favorable conditions and entering a stationary phase when resources become scarce. This transition is mediated by a regulatory mechanism known as the stringent response, which allows bacteria to adapt to nutrient deprivation by modulating gene expression and metabolic activity.During nutrient scarcity, intracellular amino acid levels decline. It results in the accumulation of uncharged tRNAs...
526
01:25Microbial Interactions: Mutualism
77
Mutualism is a symbiotic interaction in which all participating organisms benefit. These relationships can be obligate or facultative and are fundamental to ecosystem functions across diverse biological systems.Plant–Fungi MutualismOne well-known example is the association between plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi, such as Rhizophagus species. The fungal hyphae penetrate the root hairs and the epidermis, forming an extensive hyphal network that establishes a symbiotic association. Through...
77
01:27Microbes and Climate Change
88
Microorganisms are pivotal agents in Earth's biogeochemical cycles, significantly influencing climate dynamics through their metabolic activities. These microbes modulate the levels of key greenhouse gases by both contributing to and helping mitigate climate change.Microbial Contributions to Greenhouse Gas EmissionsRising global temperatures accelerate microbial metabolism, which, in turn, speeds up the decomposition of organic matter. This process releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) through...
88
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
90
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within...
90