Objective
Extremely halophilic methanogens and acetogens such as Methanohalobium or Acetohalobium species are methylotrophic and do not grow on H2 + C02. The first task of this joint research project will be to find out whether there is a threshold concentration of NaCl above which, methanogenesis as well as acetogenesis from H2 + CO2 can no longer be observed in nature or the laboratory.
The next task will be to elucidate the reasons for it. It is known now that methanogens and several acetogens derive metabolic energy via primary Na+-gradients. Therefore it is necessary to study whether halophilic and extremely halophilic organisms also perform a Na+-bio-energetics or whether the inability to establish primary Na+-pumps under these conditions make it impossible to derive metabolic energy from the conversion of H2+CO2 to methane and acetate respectively.
Parallel studies will be done on methanotrophic bacteria.
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
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37077 Göttingen
Germany