Production of hydrogen from α-1,4- and β-1,4-linked saccharides by marine hyperthermophilic Archaea.

TitleProduction of hydrogen from α-1,4- and β-1,4-linked saccharides by marine hyperthermophilic Archaea.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsOslowski DM, Jung J-H, Seo D-H, Park C-S, Holden JF
JournalAppl Environ Microbiol
Volume77
Issue10
Pagination3169-73
Date Published2011 May
ISSN1098-5336
KeywordsArchaea, Carbohydrate Metabolism, Hot Springs, Hydro-Lyases, Hydrogen, Peptides, Seawater
Abstract

Nineteen hyperthermophilic heterotrophs from deep-sea hydrothermal vents, plus the control organism Pyrococcus furiosus, were examined for their ability to grow and produce H₂ on maltose, cellobiose, and peptides and for the presence of the genes encoding proteins that hydrolyze starch and cellulose. All of the strains grew on these disaccharides and peptides and converted maltose and peptides to H₂ even when elemental sulfur was present as a terminal electron acceptor. Half of the strains had at least one gene for an extracellular starch hydrolase, but only P. furiosus had a gene for an extracellular β-1,4-endoglucanase. P. furiosus was serially adapted for growth on CF11 cellulose and H₂ production, which is the first reported instance of hyperthermophilic growth on cellulose, with a doubling time of 64 min. Cell-specific H₂ production rates were 29 fmol, 37 fmol, and 54 fmol of H₂ produced cell⁻¹ doubling⁻¹ on α-1,4-linked sugars, β-1,4-linked sugars, and peptides, respectively. The highest total community H₂ production rate came from growth on starch (2.6 mM H₂ produced h⁻¹). Hyperthermophilic heterotrophs may serve as an important alternate source of H₂ for hydrogenotrophic microorganisms in low-H₂ hydrothermal environments, and some are candidates for H₂ bioenergy production in bioreactors.

DOI10.1128/AEM.01366-10
Alternate JournalAppl. Environ. Microbiol.
PubMed ID21421788
PubMed Central IDPMC3126455