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Phosphitivorax-Methanoculleus Lithosyntrophic Phosphite-Oxidizing Methanogenic Culture

Community ID CommunityMech:000290
Ecological State STABLE
Environment anoxic phosphite-oxidizing methanogenic enrichment culture
ENVO:01001405

An anoxic, methanogenic enrichment culture defining "lithosyntrophy," an obligate syntrophic interaction in which the electrons driving hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis originate from an inorganic compound. Candidatus Phosphitivorax anaerolimi Phox-21 oxidizes phosphite (oxidation state +3) to phosphate coupled to hydrogenogenesis, in an obligate energetic dependency on a hydrogenotrophic methanogen, Methanoculleus sp. Electrons derived from phosphite drive H2 production via an electron-confurcating hydrogenase; the methanogen consumes the H2 to keep the reaction thermodynamically favorable, establishing interspecies electron transfer that links the phosphorus and carbon redox cycles in anoxic ecosystems.

Taxonomy

Taxon Ontology ID Functional Roles Abundance
Candidatus Phosphitivorax anaerolimi Phox-21 NCBITaxon:1918507
SYNTROPHIC_PARTNER ELECTRON_DONOR
N/A
  • PMID:41811448 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "Candidatus Phosphitivorax anaerolimi Phox-21 oxidizes phosphite (HPO32-, oxidation state +3) to phosphate coupled to hydrogenogenesis in an obligate energetic dependency on a hydrogenotrophic methanogen, Methanoculleus sp."
Methanoculleus sp. NCBITaxon:45989
SYNTROPHIC_PARTNER ELECTRON_ACCEPTOR
N/A
  • PMID:41811448 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "an obligate energetic dependency on a hydrogenotrophic methanogen, Methanoculleus sp."

Ecological Interactions

Ecological interaction network for Phosphitivorax-Methanoculleus Lithosyntrophic Phosphite-Oxidizing Methanogenic Culture Bipartite graph where circle nodes represent taxa and colored rectangles represent ecological interactions (cross-feeding, mutualism, syntrophy, competition, commensalism).
Taxon
Cross-feeding
Mutualism
Syntrophy
Competition
Commensalism
Niche partitioning
Colonization facilitation
Strain competition
Predation

Lithosyntrophic interspecies H2 transfer

SYNTROPHY

Source Taxon: Candidatus Phosphitivorax anaerolimi Phox-21

Target Taxon: Methanoculleus sp.

Metabolites: hydrogen (H2) (CHEBI:18276)

Evidence

  • PMID:41811448 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "we describe "lithosyntrophy," a mode of syntrophic interaction in which electrons that drive hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis originate from an inorganic compound rather than from the canonical organic substrates."
  • PMID:41811448 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "In this pathway, electrons derived from phosphite drive H2 production via an electron-confurcating hydrogenase."

Growth Media

anoxic phosphite-oxidizing methanogenic enrichment medium

Atmosphere ANAEROBIC

Preparation notes: Anoxic methanogenic enrichment culture; phosphite serves as the electron donor and Phox-21 grows mixotrophically, assimilating acetate to form biomass.

Evidence

PMID:41811448

"electrons that drive hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis originate from an inorganic compound rather than from the canonical organic substrates"

PMID:41811448

"Phox-21 is a mixotroph that assimilates acetate to form biomass"