Micro biology and Biochemistry of Strict Anaerobes Involved in

Interspecies Hydrogen Transfer

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Microbiology and Biochemistry of Strict Anaerobes Involved in

Interspecies Hydrogen Transfer

Edited by

Jean-Pie'lie Belaich and Mirezlle Bruschi

Laboratoire de Chimie Bacterienne I CNRS Marseille, France

and

Jean-Louis Garcia ORSTOM/Universite de Provence

Marseille, France

PLENUM PRESS • NEW YORK AND LONDON

PREFACE

The belief that energy might be a limiting factor for the development of humanity led twenty years ago to a great interest being'taken in research on anaerobic digestion. The first international symposium held in Cardiff in 1979 was followed by the meetings in Travenmund (1981), Boston (1983), Guangzhou (1985) and Bologna (1988). By now anaerobic digestion has come to be recognized as an appropriate technology for waste treatment. More recently, the increase in the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere and (in developed countries, especially_ in the EEC) the· fact that more and more land is becoming available for purposes other than food production make biomass production economically and/or socially feasible for industrial purposes. The possibility of using renewable organic carbon resources in this way is of great potential interest for developing biological techniques and could considerably increase the use of anaerobic micro-organisms in cellulose biotransformation and energy production from crop residues.

This FEMS Symposium is devoted to the interspecies hydrogen transfer phenomenon involved in the mineralization of organic matter in anaerobiosis. This process is carried out in Nature by consortia of anaerobic micro-organisms living syntrophically. Many industrial applications of these consortia as black boxes for biogas production and waste treatment have been described. Although these early approaches were fruitful, it seems likely that a better knowledge at the molecular level of the more characteristic anaerobic bacteria which constitute these consortia would greatly increase and improve the utilization of these organisms.

The purpose of this Symposium was to provide an opportunity for discussing the recent progress which has been made in the biology, biochemistry and genetics of the anaerobic microbes which participate in the metabolism of hydrogen. Special attention was paid to bacterial hydrogenases, key enzymes of hydrogen metabolism, which are responsible for hydrogen transfer between the various 'partners in anaerobic consortia.

The Symposium was held in Marseille, France from 12-14 September 1989, sponsored by the Federation of European Microbiological Societies, Agence Fran~aise pour la Maftrise de l'Energie, Conseil Regional Provence-Alpes­C6te-d'Azur,~the Municipality of Marseille, and Pharmacia of France. The Organizing Committee of the Symposium consisted of J-P Belaich, K H Schleifer, Claudine Elmerich, Marie-Claire Blanchard, Pomme Lamy and V A Jacq and they express their gratitude to the sponsors who enabled the meeting to take place.

Jean-Pierre Belaich

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CONTENTS

PART I - PLENARY LECTURES

Molecular Hydrogen and Energy Conservation in Methanogenic and Acetogenic Bacteria ........................................................................... 3

R. Sparling and G. Gottschalk

Approaches to Gene Transfer in Methanogenic Bacteria ........................................ ll T. Leisinger and L. Meile

The Hydrogenase of Methanococcus voltae an Approach to the Biochemical and Genetic Analysis of an Archaebacterial Uptake Hydrogenase ................................................. 25

E. Kothe, S. Halboth, J. Sitzmann and A. Klein

Hydrogenase Genes of Desulfovibrio ............................................................. 37 G. Voordouw

The Hydrogenases of Sulfate - Reducing Bacteria: Physiological, Biochemical and Catalytic Aspects ...................................... 53

E.c. Hatchikian, V.M. Fernandez and R. Cammack

The F420-Reducing Hydrogenase of Methanospirillum hungatei Strain GPl.. ............. 75 G.D. Sprott

Ecological Impact of Syntrophic Alcohol and Fatty Acid Oxidation ........................... 87 A.J.M. Starns and A.J.B. Zehnder

Methanogenesis from Propionate in Sludge and Enrichment Systems ........................ 99 R.A. Mah,'L.Y. Xun, D.R. Boone, B. Ahring, P.H. Smith,

and A. Wilkie

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PART2-CONFERENCES

2.1. - MICROBIOLOGY

Substitution ofH2-Acceptor Organism with Catalytic Hydrogenation System in Methanogen Coupled Fermentations ........................................ 115

D.O. Mountfort and H.F. Kaspar

Hydrogen Transfer in Mixed Cultures of Anaerobic Bacteria and Fungi with Methanobrevibacter smithii .............................................................. 121

C.S. Stewart, A.J. Richardson, R.M. Douglas and C.J. Rumney

Oxidative Propionate Formation by Anaerobic Bacteria ...................................... 133 A.T.P. Slcrabanja and A.J.M. Starns

Anaerobic Degradation of Furfural by Defined Mixed Cultures .............................. 141 S.M. Schoberth, U. Ney and H. Sahm

Energetics and Kinetics of Two Complementary Hydrogen Sink Reactions in a Defined 3-Chlorobenzoate Degrading Methanogenic Consortium ................. 151

J. Dolfing

Role of Hydrogen in the Growth of Mutualistic Methanogenic Cocultures ................. 161 J. Benstead, D;B. Archer and D. Lloyd

Thermodynamical and Microbiological Evidence of Trophic Microniches for Propionate Degradation in a Methanogenic Sludge-Bed Reactor .................... 173

S.R. Guiot, F.A. MacLeod and A. Pauss

Dissimilation of Ethanol and Related Compounds by Desulfovibrio Strains .............. 185 T.A. Hansen and D.R. Kremer

Factors Affecting Hydrogen Uptake by Bacteria Growing in the Human Large Intestine ............................................................................. 191

G.R. Gibson, J.H. Cummings and G.T. Macfarlane

Isolation and Characterization of an Anaerobic Bacterium Degrading 4-Chlorobutyrate ........................................................................... 203

K. Matsuda, K. Nakamura, Y. Kamagata and E. Mikarni

Carbon and Energy Flow During Acetogenic Metabolism ofUnicarbon and Multicarbon Substrates ............................................................... 213

N.D. Lindley, E. Gros, P. Le Bloas, M. Cocaign and P. Loubiere

Enrichment of a Mesophilic, Syntrophic Bacterial Consortium Converting Acetate to Methane at High Ammonium Concentrations ...................................... 225

A. Blomgren, A. Hansen and B. H. Svensson

2.2. - BIOCHEMISTRY

Electron Carrier Proteins in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki... ............................. 237 T. Yagi and M. Ogata

Interaction Studies Between Redox Proteins, Cytochrome c3, Ferredoxin and Hydrogenase from Sulfate Reducing Bacteria ......................................... 249

A. DoHa, F. Guedesquin, M. Bruschi and R. Haser

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Biochemistry of the Methylcoenzyme M Methylreductase System .......................... 259 P.E. Rouviere, C.H. Kuhner and R.S. Wolfe

Energetics of the Growth of a New Syntrophic Benzoate Degrading Bacterium ........... 269 J.P. Belaich, P. Heitz, M. Rousset and J.L. Garcia

Syntrophic Propionate Oxidation ................................................................. 281 F.P. Houwen, 1. Plokker, C. Dijkema and A.J.M. Starns

Structural and Functional Properties of the Chromosomal Protein MC1 Isolated from Various Strains of Methanosarcinaceae ........................................... 291

B. Laine, F. Chartier, M. Imbert and P. Sautiere

2.3. - GENETICS

An Archaebacterial In Vitro Transcription System ............................................. 305 M. Thomm, G. Frey, W. Hausner and B. Brlidigam

A Survey of Recent Advances in Genetic Engineering in Bacteroides ...................... 313 M. Bechet, P. Pheulpin, 1.C. Joncquiert, Y. Tierny,

and J.B. Guillaume

The Membrane-Bound Hydrogenase of the Photosynthetic Bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus ................................................................... 329

P. M . Vignais, A. Colbeau, B. Cauvin and P. Richaud

Hydrogenase Mutants of Escherichia coli Defective in Nickel Uptake ...................... 337 M.A. Mandrand, L.F. Wu and D. Boxer

PART 3 - POSTER SESSION

3.1. - MICROBIOLOGY

Thermophilic Anaerobic Oxidation of Butyrate in Axenic Culture .......................... 351 B. Ahring, P. Westermann and R.A. Mah

Eubacterium acidaminophilum , an Organism Able to Interact in Interspecies H-Transfer Reactions or to Transfer Electrons to Different Terminal Reductase Systems ............................................... 355

J.R. Andreesen, K. Hormann, K. Granderath, M. Meyer, and D. Dietrichs

Immunological Properties of Desulfobacter ..................................................... 359 1. Beeder, T. Lien and T. Torsvik

Fermentation Properties of Four Strictly Anaerobic Rumen Fungal Species: H 2-Producing Microorganisms .......................................................... 361

A. Bernalier, G. Fonty and Ph. Gouet

Growth of Bacteroides xylanolyticus in the Presence and Absence of a Methanogen ........................................................................... 365

S. Biesterveld and A.J.M. Starns

Hydrogen Metabolism by Termite Gut Microbes ............................................... 369 A. Brauman, M.D. Kane, M. Labat and J.A. Breznak

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Hydrogen and Methanogenesis in Rumen Liquor and in Rumen Ciliate / Methanogen Cocultures ................................................................... 373

J. Ellis, K. Hillman, A.G. Williams and D. Lloyd

Hydrogen Production by Rumen Ciliate Protozoa ............................................. 377 J. Ellis, K. Hillman, A.G. Williams and D. Lloyd

Methanogenic Bacteria and their Activity in a Subsurface Reservoir of Town Gas ............................................................................... 381

M. Greksfr, P. Smigan, J. Kozlinkova, F. Buzek, V. Onderka and I. Wolf

Study of the Transition of Activated Sludges to an Adapted Anaerobic Inoculum for Anaerobic Digestion ....................................................... 385

J.P. Guyot, C. Fajardo, A. Noyola and C. Barrena

Effects of Elevated Hydrogen Partial Pressures on Anaerobic Treatment of Carbohydrate .................................................. 387

S.R. Harper and F.G. Pohland

Hydrogen Production in Anaerobic Biofilms ................................................... 391 E. Henry, T. Ford and R. Mitchell

Effects of Various Headspace Gases on the Production of Volatile Fatty Acids by Rumen Ciliate Protozoa ................................................................... 395

K. Hillman, A.G. Williams and D. Lloyd

Mass Transfer of Hydrogen in a Culture of Methanobacteriwn thermoautotrophicwn Strain Hveragerdi .......................................................................... 399

G. Jud, K. Schneider and R. Bachofen

Physiology and Metabolic Features of a Novel Methanogenic Isolate ...................... .403 S. Krishnan and K. Lalitha

Thermophilic Anaerobic Oxidation of EthanoL ............................................... .407 S. Larsen and B.K. Ahring

Efficiency of Bacterial Protein Synthesis and Methanogenesis during Anaerobic Degradation ................................................................... 411

R.1. Mackie and M.P. Bryant

Trace Methane in some Proteolytic Nonglucidolytic Clostridia: the Role of Some S-Methyl and N-Methyl Compounds ............................. .415 P. Niel, G. Leluan, H. Virelizier and A. Rirnbault

Inhibition Kinetics by H2. Acetate and Propionate in Methanogenesis from Propionate in a Mixed Culture ................................................... .419

N. Nishio, S. Fukuzaki and S. Nagai

Hydrogep Content in Biogas as a State Indicator of Methanogenesis from Wastes ............................................................................... 423

A.N. Nozhevnikova, LV. Bodnar, A.1. Slobodkin and T.G. Sokolova

Interspecies Transport of Hydrogen in Thermophilic Anaerobic Cellulose Decomposition ................................................................ .427

A.N. Nozhevnikova and M.V. Simankova

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The Participation of Lithotrophic Homoacetogenic Bacteria and M ethanothrix in Thermophilic Anaerobic Ethanol Degradation with Methane Formation ........... .431

AN. Nozhevnikova and A.I. Slobodkin

Characterization of a Sulfate Reducing Bacterium Isolated from a Hypersaline African Lake .............................................................. .435

B. Ollivier, C.E. Hatchikian, G. Prensier, J. Guezenec, and J.L. Garcia

Isolation and Characterization of an Ethanol-Degrading Anaerobe from Methanogenic Granular Sludge ................................................... .439

C.M. Plugge, J.T.e. Grotenhuis and AJ.M. Starns

The Role of Fe(III) Reduction in Anaerobic Processes ....................................... .443 J. Potekhina

Glycerol Degradation by Desulfovibrio sp. in Pure Culture and in Coculture with Methanospirillum hungatei ........................................ .447

A.I. Qatibi, J.L. Cayol and J.L. Garcia

1,2- and 1,3-Propanediol Degradation by Desulfovibrio alcoholovorans sp. nov., in Pure Culture or through H2 Interspecies Transfer .... : ... -......................... .451

AI. Qatibi and J.L. Garcia

Long Chain Fatty Acid Degradation by a Mesophilic Syntrophic Coculture Isolated from Margin ..................................................................... 455

M. Ragot, B. Ollivier and J.L. Garcia

Effect of Sulfide and Reactor Operational Parameters on Sulfate Reducing Bacteria ..... .459 M.A.M. Reis, P.e. Lemos, J. Almeida and M.T.J. Carrondo

Hydrogen Transfer between Neocallimastixfrontalis and Selenomonas ruminantium Grown in Mixed Culture ................................ .463

AJ. Richardson and C.S. Stewart

Phylogenetic Analysis of Methanogenic Bacteria .............................................. .467 P. Rouviere, L.C. Mandelco and e.R. Woese

An Acetate Decomposing Sulphidogenic Syntrophic Association .......................... .469 E. Rozanova, A. Galushko and T. Nazina

Anaerobic Digestion of Proteins, Peptides and Amino Acids ................................ .471 J.P. Schwitzguebel and P. Peringer

Isolation of Syntrophic Bacteria on Metabolic Intermediates ................................ .473 AJ.M. Starns and C.M. Plugge

Isolation of Propionate-Using, Sulfate-Reducing Bacterium ................................ .477 M. Tasaki, Y. Kamagata, K. Nakamura and E. Mikami

Characterization of a Sulfate-Reducing Bacterium Isolated from the Gut of a Tropical Soil Termite ...................................................... .481

S.A. Traore, G. Fauque, V.A Jacq and J.P. Belaich

Relationship between Methanogenesis and Sulfate Reduction in Anaerobic Digestion of Municipal Sewage Sludge ............................................................ .485

K. Ueki and A Ueki

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The Effect of Temperature on Butyrate Degradation .......................................... .489 P. Westermann

Thermophilic Degradation of Butyrate, Propionate and Acetate in Granular Sludge ...... .493 M. Winther-Nielsen and B.K. Ahring

Differential Effects of Sodium and Carbon Monoxide on the H2- and Glucose-Dependent Growth of the Thermophilic Acetogen Acetogenium kivui ............ .497

H. Yang and H.L. Drake

3.2. - BIOCHEMISTRY

One-Carbon Metabolism by the Rumen Acetogen Syntrophococcus sucromf-ltans ....... .503 J. Dore and M.P. Bryant

Structural and Functional Properties of a Ferredoxin Isolated from Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus ................................................... 507

M.L. Fardeau, M. Bruschi, R. Cammack, J.P. Belaich, M. Frey and C.E. Hatchikian

Desulfovibrio gigas Hydrogenase: Crystallographic Studies .................................................................. 511

M. Frey, C. Cambillau, V. Niviere and C.E. Hatchikian

Kinetic Studies of Electron Transfer between Hydrogenase and Cytochrome CJ by Electrochemistry ....................................................................... 515

J. Haladjian, P. Bianco, F. Guerlesquin, M. Bruschi, V. Niviere and C. Hatchikian

Hydrogenase in Desulfobacter ................................................................... 519 T. Lien and T. Torsvik

ATP-Synthesis Coupled to the Terminal Step of Methanogenesis ........................... 521 S. Peinemann and G. Gottschalk

3.3. - GENETICS

Expression of an Eubacterial Puromycin Resistance Gene in the Archaebacterium Methanococcus voltae ........................................... 527

O. Possot, P. Gemhardt, M. Foglino, A. Klein, and L. Sibold

Cloning and Sequencing the Locus Encoding for the Large and Small Subunit Genes of the Periplasmic ( NiFeS ) Hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio fructosovorans ...................................................... 531

M. Rousset, Z. Dermoun, C.E. Hatchikian and J.P. Belaich

AUTHORS INDEX ................................................................................ 535

SUBJECT INDEX ................................................................................. 539

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