Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.gca.2010.12.006
Title (Primary) Different types of methane monooxygenases produce similar carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation patterns during methane oxidation
Author Feisthauer, S.; Vogt, C.; Modrzynski, J.; Szlenkier, M.; Krüger, M.; Siegert, M.; Richnow, H.H.
Source Titel Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Year 2011
Department ISOBIO
Volume 75
Issue 5
Page From 1173
Page To 1184
Language englisch
Abstract

We determined the stable carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation factors for methane oxidation under oxic conditions using strains with known degradation pathways. The aerobic oxidation of methane can be initiated by two different forms of enzymes known as methane monooxygenases (MMO). The expression of these enzymes is type-specific and dependent upon the adjusted copper concentration in the medium (or environment). In this study, the expression of either the soluble MMO or the particulate MMO was supported by adjusting the copper concentrations in the growth medium. Taxonomically different aerobic methanotrophic strains, mainly belonging to the alpha- and gamma- classes of Proteobacteria, produced methane isotope enrichment factors (εbulk) ranging from −14.8 to −27.9‰ for carbon, and from −110.0 to −231.5‰ for hydrogen. The ratio of hydrogen versus carbon discrimination (Λ = (αH−1 − 1)/(αC−1 − 1) ≈ Δ(δ2H)/Δ(δ13C)) were similar for all tested cultures, and are also identical to values calculated from previously published enrichment factors for aerobic and anaerobic methane degradation. In contrast, Λ-values for the abiotic oxidation of methane with OH radicals (this process is considered as the main removal process for methane from the atmosphere) were significantly higher than the values derived from biotic oxidation. Due to the low variability of microbial methane isotope fractionation patterns, we propose that combined carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation analyses can be used to monitor and assess the occurrence of microbial methane oxidation in marine or terrestrial environments. However, it is not possible to distinguish distinct aerobic or anaerobic methane-oxidation pathways by this approach.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=10980
Feisthauer, S., Vogt, C., Modrzynski, J., Szlenkier, M., Krüger, M., Siegert, M., Richnow, H.H. (2011):
Different types of methane monooxygenases produce similar carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation patterns during methane oxidation
Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 75 (5), 1173 - 1184 10.1016/j.gca.2010.12.006