Facultative methanotrophs and environmental regulation of methane oxidation
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Biological Sciences
Abstract
The concentration of methane in the atmosphere is currently 1.8 ppm and about 20% of global warming has been attributed to this potent greenhouse gas. It is estimated that 400-640 Tg of methane is produced annually by methanogenic bacteria in anaerobic soils and sediments much of which is oxidised at the aerobic-anaerobic interface in wetlands or overlying aerobic soils before it is released to the atmosphere, thereby mitigating the global emissions of methane into the atmosphere. Wetlands and soils are therefore important sinks for methane, consuming an estimated 27 and 40 Tg CH4 per year respectively. This is carried out by aerobic methane oxidising bacteria. Bacteria which grow on methane as sole carbon source have been obtained from many environments. Cultivation-independent techniques indicate that there are more novel methanotrophs in the environment that await isolation. Generally, methanotrophs have been regarded as obligate, ie only growing on methane (or methanol). Recent exciting discoveries of facultative methanotrophs which grow on both methane and multi-carbon compounds such as acetate now make it imperative that we develop a thorough understanding of how these newly discovered methanotrophs, which appear to be widespread in wetlands and soils, regulate their methane oxidation systems and how they contribute to the global methane cycle. We propose to study the environmental regulation of methane oxidation in a model facultative methanotroph Methylocella silvestris. Another exciting breakthrough is that we will soon have the genome sequence of Methylocella silvestris available to us which provides a blueprint for the metabolic pathways in this bacterium and enables us to elucidate the pathways of facultative metabolism. We have developed a number of physiological and molecular biological techniques to enable us to study this bacterium in cultures in the laboratory and to investigate pathways of acetate utilisation and to determine what environmental factors regulate metabolism in this bacterium. We have also developed a number of cutting edge molecular ecology tools which enable us to parallel the laboratory culture experiments with microcosm experiments which will address the role of these facultative methanotrophs in peat and landfill soils in order to address the hypothesis that in certain growth environments facultative methanotrophs have a competitive edge over obligate methanotrophs and that they make a significant contribution to the cycling of methane in the environment.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
John Murrell (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Chen Y
(2010)
Methanotrophs in moss
in Nature Geoscience
Chen Y
(2010)
{gamma}-Glutamylmethylamide is an essential intermediate in the metabolism of methylamine by Methylocella silvestris.
in Applied and environmental microbiology
Chen Y
(2010)
Complete genome sequence of the aerobic facultative methanotroph Methylocella silvestris BL2.
in Journal of bacteriology
Chen Y
(2010)
Applications of DNA-stable isotope probing in bioremediation studies.
in Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
Chen Y
(2011)
Bacterial flavin-containing monooxygenase is trimethylamine monooxygenase.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Chen Y
(2010)
Monomethylamine as a nitrogen source for a nonmethylotrophic bacterium, Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
in Applied and environmental microbiology
Chen Y
(2010)
When metagenomics meets stable-isotope probing: progress and perspectives.
in Trends in microbiology
Chen Y
(2008)
Diversity of the active methanotrophic community in acidic peatlands as assessed by mRNA and SIP-PLFA analyses.
in Environmental microbiology
Chen Y
(2010)
Metagenomic analysis of isotopically enriched DNA.
in Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
Description | Findings have informed the general public and policy makers about the importance of the microbiology of atmospheric trace gases and microbes in biogeochemical cycling and their potential in the production of bulk and fine chemicals. |
First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
Sector | Environment |
Description | Facultative methanotrophs |
Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2017 |
End | 04/2020 |
Description | Chinese Academy of Science Award Lecture to general public |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Fighting climate change with microbiology. Chinese Academy of Sciences Distinguished Professorship Award Lecture, Nanjing, China, September, 2015 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | EMBO Conference presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Biogeochemical cycling of atmospheric trace gases. EMBO, Heidelberg, Germany, October 2015 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | GRS talk Mt Holyoke |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk at the Gordon Research Seminar, Molecular Basis of Microbial One-Carbon Metabolism |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Industrial engagement National Biotechnology Institute Montreal Canada |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Research presentation Methanotrophs and methane monooxygenases. NRC-BRI Montreal, April 2015 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Research presentations at national and international conferences |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | At least 10 research presentations at National and International scientific meetings, workshop and end-user engagement activities, including China, USA, Australia, Germany. Audiences included researchers, postgraduate students, industrialists, policy makers, government organizations |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
Description | School visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Stimulated interest in environmental microbiology Increased applications to UEA |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | School visit Ipswich |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Over 100 sixth form students attended my lecture on Fighting climate change with microbiology |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | University Open Days and Summer Schools |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Presentations on research at Open Days, School Visits, Summer Schools (approximately three per year) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
Description | press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Lots of interest in research interviews with Reuters, The Sun, Anglia News |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |