Investigation of the molecular mechanism and environmental contribution of methanogenesis via electric syntrophy

• Project/Area Number: 16H06191
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Kato Souichiro 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, 生命工学領域, 主任研究員 (30597787)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥24,310,000 (Direct Cost: ¥18,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥5,610,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥5,460,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,260,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥7,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,800,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥11,050,000 (Direct Cost: ¥8,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,550,000)
• Keywords: 微生物 / メタン生成 / 共生 / 電子伝達 / 導電性鉱物 / 遺伝子発現解析 / 酸化鉄 / 電気共生 / メタン / 導電性粒子 / プロテオーム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A model microbial consortium that performs electric syntrophy-dependent methanogenesis was successfully constructed. Comprehensive gene expression analysis on the model consortium disclosed proteins required for electric syntrophy. Furthermore, we clarified that conductive iron oxides induce electric syntrophy and promote methanogenesis by microbial communities in a high-temperature petroleum reservoir, and biogenic iron sulfide can also induce electric syntrophy-dependent methanogenesis, which demonstrated importance of electric syntrophy-dependent methanogenesis in diverse natural environments.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

メタンは強力な温室効果ガスであり、また重要な持続可能なエネルギー源ともなりうる。そのため微生物によるメタン生成反応の理解は、環境・エネルギー問題の解決に向け重要なものとなる。電気共生型メタン生成反応は近年我々のグループが見出した新たなメタン生成プロセスであり、通常のプロセスよりも高効率であることが知られている。本研究課題により得られた成果は、地球規模での物質循環の理解、並びに将来的な微生物メタン生成プロセスの制御に向けた、重要な基盤知識となる。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Enhancement of methanogenesis by electric syntrophy with biogenic iron-sulfide minerals. (2019)
  • Author(s): 加藤創一郎、五十嵐健輔
  • Journal Title: MicrobiologyOpen Volume: 8 Issue: 3
  • DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.647
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Conductive Iron Oxides Promote Methanogenic Acetate Degradation by Microbial Communities in a High-Temperature Petroleum Reservoir (2019)
  • Author(s): 加藤創一郎、和田薫、北川航、眞弓大介、五十嵐雅之、曽根輝夫、浅野孝蔵、鎌形洋一
  • Journal Title: Microbes and Environments Volume: 34 Issue: 1 Pages: 95-98
  • DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.ME18140
  • NAID: 130007627745
  • ISSN: 1342-6311, 1347-4405
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Presentation] Microbial metabolisms based on electron exchange with solid materials. (2018)
  • Author(s): 加藤創一郎
  • Organizer: The 3rd Solar Fuel Material workshop
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Acetogenic bacteria that induce biocorrosion via extracellular electron transfer. (2017)
  • Author(s): 加藤創一郎
  • Organizer: 6th International Symposium on Applied Microbiology and Molecular Biology in Oil Systems (ISMOS-6)
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Electric syntrophy: Syntrophic methanogenesis via electric current through conductive materials. (2017)
  • Author(s): 加藤創一郎
  • Organizer: 2017 Anaerobic Microbial Syntrophy Forum
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Microbial energy metabolisms based on electrochemical interaction with solid surfaces. (2017)
  • Author(s): 加藤創一郎
  • Organizer: IGER International Symposium on Cell Surface Structures and Functions 2017
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited