An Aggregation-defective Mutant of Methanothermobacter sp. CaT2 Reveals Unique Protein-dependent Aggregation

The thermophilic hydrogenotrophic methanogen, Methanothermobacter sp. CaT2, which possesses an extracellular sugar layer, commonly aggregates by itself or with other microorganisms. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for this aggregation, the aggregation-defective mutant, CLA160, was isolated. Optical and electron microscopy observations revealed that the mutant exhibited a significant reduction in aggregation. Genomic sequencing showed that CLA160 has a single point mutation, causing a nonsense mutation in MTCT_1020, which encodes a hypothetical protein. Motif and domain analyses indicated that the hypothetical protein bears two membrane-spanning segments at the N- and C-terminal regions and a large middle repeat-containing region. The results of a bioinformatic analysis suggested that the first middle region (RII) of the protein or the whole structure is responsible for the function of the product of MTCT_1020 in the aggregation of CaT2. A treatment with proteinase K suppressed sedimentation in CaT2, indicating a reduction in aggregation, with almost no effect on sedimentation in CLA160. The addition of Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ ions enhanced sedimentation in CaT2, whereas a DNase treatment had no effect on sedimentation in either strain. These results suggest that the hypothetical protein encoded by MTCT_1020 plays a key role as a membrane-bound adhesion protein in the aggregation of CaT2, which is enhanced by the addition of Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ ions.