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Desulfovibrio-Methanococcus Syntrophic Consortium

Ecological State STABLE
Environment sulfate-free anaerobic environment
ENVO:01001405
Source File Desulfovibrio_Methanococcus_Syntrophy.yaml

A syntrophic, obligate two-member anaerobic consortium consisting of Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, which oxidizes lactate to acetate, H2, and CO2 in the absence of sulfate, and Methanococcus maripaludis S2, a hydrogenotrophic methanogen. D. vulgaris can reduce sulfate when available, but in sulfate-free environments it must grow syntrophically by coupling lactate oxidation to interspecies hydrogen transfer. M. maripaludis consumes the H2 and CO2 produced by D. vulgaris to produce methane, maintaining the low H2 partial pressure thermodynamically required for continued lactate oxidation. This syntrophic relationship is fundamental to understanding microbial metabolism in sulfate-depleted anaerobic environments and represents a classic model system for studying syntrophic electron transfer mechanisms.

Taxonomy

Taxon Ontology ID Functional Roles Abundance
Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough NCBITaxon:882
PRIMARY_DEGRADER SYNTROPHIC_PARTNER
N/A
Methanococcus maripaludis S2 NCBITaxon:267377
SYNTROPHIC_PARTNER
N/A

Ecological Interactions

Lactate Oxidation and H2 Production

SYNTROPHY

Source Taxon: Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough

Metabolites: lactate (CHEBI:24996), acetate (CHEBI:30089), dihydrogen (CHEBI:18276), carbon dioxide (CHEBI:16526)

Biological Processes:

Downstream Effects:
→ Interspecies Hydrogen Transfer and Methanogenesis

Evidence

  • PMID:19581361 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "Additionally, a predicted operon containing genes involved in lactate transport and oxidation exhibited upregulation, further suggesting an alternative pathway for electrons derived from lactate oxidation during syntrophic growth"
  • PMID:19581361 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "During syntrophic growth on lactate with a hydrogenotrophic methanogen, numerous genes involved in electron transfer and energy generation were upregu"

Interspecies Hydrogen Transfer and Methanogenesis

SYNTROPHY

Source Taxon: Methanococcus maripaludis S2

Metabolites: dihydrogen (CHEBI:18276), carbon dioxide (CHEBI:16526), methane (CHEBI:16183)

Biological Processes:

Evidence

  • PMID:19581361 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "Interspecies hydrogen transfer between organisms producing and consuming hydrogen promotes the decomposition of organic matter in most anoxic environments"
  • PMID:19581361 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "Assuming that molecular hydrogen is the primary mediator of reduced metabolite exchange, the fraction of energy available to each organism is determined primarily by H2 concentration"

Environmental Factors

Factor Value Unit
Anaerobic Conditions Strict anaerobic N/A
Sulfate Absence Sulfate-free medium N/A
Hydrogen Partial Pressure Must be maintained at low levels N/A
Dilution Rate 0.039 h^-1 per hour