Research
Programs and projects
www.darwincenter.nl
Program 1010

Bacterial anaerobic methane oxidation in high temperature environments
Program coordinator(s): Prof. dr. ir. A. J. M. Stams
Theme(s): 1
Funding date: 8-apr-05

Abstract
Methane has been recognized as one of the important greenhouse gases. The flux of methane from marine sediments into the ocean is substantially reduced by anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) mediated by putative anaerobic methane-oxidizing Archaea (ANME-1 and ANME-2) and sulphate reducing bacteria, which typically occur together in methane-rich marine sediments. Recently, we have isolated a methanol-degrading Thermotoga species, which is also able to oxidize methane anaerobically. This finding provides new insight in the possible occurrence of bacteria-mediated AOM in high temperature environments like hydrothermal vents, geothermally heated sea floors and oil reservoirs. The ability of AOM by Thermotoga species may indicate that in such settings these phylogenetically ancient bacteria play a key role in the cycling of carbon and sulfur. In this project we will perform research to get detailed insight into bacterial AOM in high temperature environments. By using molecular biomarkers, stable isotope probing and gene-expression studies AOM will be investigated in pure cultures and in samples from diverse high temperature environments, like marine sediments, oil fields, hot springs. Besides AOM coupled to sulphate and thiosulphate reduction, also AOM with other electron acceptors like Fe(III) and quinones will be tested. We will also perform the enrichment and isolation of novel thermophilic bacteria involved in AOM.

This program contains the following projects:
1011a + b: Anaerobic methane oxidation by Thermotoga species and other thermophilic microorganisms
1012: Membrane lipids of Thermogata as indicators for present and past thermophilic anaerobic oxidation of methane

Publications
Balk, M., Weijma, J., Goorissen, H.P., Ronteltap, M., Hansen, T.A., Stams, A.J.M. (2007). Methanol utilizing Desulfotomaculum species utilizes hydrogen in a methanol-fed sulfate-reducing bioreactor . Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology73 (5): 1203-1211.
Darwin Center authors: Balk M., Stams A. J. M.

Balk, M. (2007). Life in the absence of oxygen: alterative electron acceptors for anaerobic microorganisms in a petroleum environment . Turkish Journal of Biology31: 59-66.
Darwin Center authors: Balk M.

Sinninghe Damsté, J.S., Rijpstra, W.I.C., Hopmans, E.C., Schouten, S., Balk, M., Stams, A.J.M. (2007). Structural characterization of diabolic acid-based tetraester, tetraether and mixed ether/ester, membrane-spanning lipids of bacteria from the order Thermotogales . Archives of Microbiology pp 629-641188 (6): 629-641.
Darwin Center authors: Balk M., Hopmans E. C., Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., Stams A. J. M.

Balk, M., Altinbas, M., Rijpstra, W.I.C., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S., Stams, A.J.M. (2008). Desulfatirhabdium butyrativorans gen. nov., sp. nov., a butyrate-oxidizing, sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from an anaerobic bioreactor.. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology58: 110-115.
Darwin Center authors: Balk M., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., Stams A. J. M.

Melike Balk, Ton van Gelder, Sander A. Weelink, and Alfons J. M. Stams (2008). (Per)chlorate Reduction by the Thermophilic Bacterium Moorella perchloratireducens sp. nov., Isolated from Underground Gas Storage. APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY74: 403-409.
Darwin Center authors: Balk M., van Gelder A. H., Stams A. J. M.

Jaeschke, A., Op den Camp, H.J.M., Harhangi, H., Klimiuk, A., Hopmans, E.C., Jetten, M.S.M., Schouten, S., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S. (2009). 16S rRNA gene and lipid biomarker evidence for anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (anammox) in California and Nevada hot springs. FEMS Microbiology Ecology67 (3): 343-350.
Darwin Center authors: op den Camp H. J. M., Hopmans E. C., Jetten M. S. M., Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S.

Jagersma, G.C., Meulepas, R.J.W., Heikamp-de Jong, I., Gieteling, J., Klimiuk, A., Schouten, S., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S., Lens, P.N.L., Stams, A.J.M. (2009). Microbial diversity and community structure of a highly active anaerobic methane-oxidizing sulfate-reducing enrichment. Environmental Microbiology11 (12): 3223-3232.
Darwin Center authors: Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., Stams A. J. M.

Schouten, S., Klimiuk, A.M., van der Meer, M.T.J., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S. (2009). Occurrence and Carbon Metabolism of Green Nonsulfur-like Bacteria in Californian and Nevada Hot Spring Microbial mats as Revealed by Wax Ester Lipid Analysis. Geomicrobiology Journal26 (3): 179-188.
Darwin Center authors: Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S.

Balk M., Heilig, H.G.H., van Eekert, M.H.A., Stams, A.J.M., Rijpstra, R.C., Sinninghe-Damsté, J.S., de Vos, W.M., Kengen, S.W.M. (2009). Isolation and characterization of a new CO-utilizing strain, Thermoanaerobacter thermohydrosulfuricus subsp. carboxydovorans, isolated from a geothermal spring in Turkey. Extremophiles13: 885-894.
Darwin Center authors: Balk M., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., Stams A. J. M.

Balk M., Bose M., Ertem G., Rogoff D.A., Rothschild, L.J., Freund F.T. (2009). Oxidation of water to hydrogen peroxide at the rock–water interface due to stress-activated electric currents in rocks . Earth and Planetary Science Letters283: 87-92.
Darwin Center authors: Balk M.

Jiang B., Henstra A.-M., Paulo P.L., Balk M., van Doesburg W., Stams A.J.M. (2009). Atypical one-carbon metabolism of an acetogenic and hydrogenic Moorella thermoacetica strain . Archives of Microbiology191(2): 123-131.
Darwin Center authors: Balk M., Stams A. J. M.

Weijers, J.W.H., Panota, E., Schouten, S., Balk, M., Stams, A.J.M., Rijpstra, I.C., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S. (2009). Constraints on the biological source(s) of the orphan branched tetraether membrane lipids . Geomicrobiology journal26 (6): 402-414.
Darwin Center authors: Balk M., Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., Stams A. J. M.

Schouten S., Klimiuk A.M., van der Meer M.T.J., Sinninghe Damsté J.S. (2009). Occurrence and carbon metabolisms of green nonsulfur bacteria in Californian and Nevada hot spring microbial mats . Geomicrobiology journal26: 179-188.
Darwin Center authors: Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S.

D. Z. Sousa, M. Balk, M. Alves, B. Schink, M. J. McInerney, H. Smidt, C. M. Plugge and A. J. M. Stams (2010). Degradation of Long-Chain Fatty Acids by Sulfate-Reducing and Methanogenic Communities.
Darwin Center authors: Balk M., Stams A. J. M.

Melike Balk, Farrakh Mehboob, Antonie H. van Gelder, W. Irene C. Rijpstra, Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté and Alfons J. M. Stams (2010). (Per)chlorate reduction by an acetogenic bacterium, Sporomusa sp., isolated from an underground gas storage. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology88: 595-603.
Darwin Center authors: Balk M., van Gelder A. H., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., Stams A. J. M.