A new view of methanogenesis with a function-specific biomarker

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H04261
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 63010:Environmental dynamic analysis-related
• Research Institution: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Kaneko Masanori 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, 地質調査総合センター, 主任研究員 (80633239)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 延 優 (NOBUMASARU・KONISHI) 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 (40805644)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: メタン菌 / 補酵素F430 / メチルコエンザイムM還元酵素 / 海底堆積物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The objectives of this research were 1) to clarify the distribution of methanogens from the surface of marine sediments to basement rocks and to identify environmental factors controlling their distribution, and 2) to prove the link between the unknown function of coenzyme F430 and the unknown methanogens.
The distribution and kinetics of non-biological degradation of coenzyme F430 up to 2.5 km below the sediment off the Shimokita Peninsula were clarified, and the distribution of methanogens in the deep marine sediment was quantitatively clarified for the first time. The methanogenic biomass was 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than estimation based on genome analysis, indicating the possible presence of unknown methanogens.we also clarified the unknown function of coenzyme F430, and generated new insights into the evolution of methanogens.

Free Research Field

有機地球化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果は「メタン菌はどこに、どれくらいいるのか」という長年の学術的問いに対し、初めて定量的にメタン菌の分布を明らかにした。また、そこから未知メタン菌の存在の可能性について示した。
補酵素F430の未知機能について明らかにし、触媒としての可能性と、未知機能を持ったメタン菌の探索に資する結果を得た。