Understanding syntrophic hydrocarbon metabolism under methanogenic conditions

了解产甲烷条件下的互养碳氢化合物代谢

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-05214
• 负责人: Gieg, Lisa
• 金额: $ 2.77万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=687241
• 关键词: Understanding; syntrophic; hydrocarbon; metabolism; under

Hydrocarbon spills into subsurface environments such as groundwater aquifers frequently lead to the development of methanogenic conditions. Many studies have shown that hydrocarbons can be biodegraded to methane by microbes, suggesting that we may be able to rely on such microbial activity for contaminated site clean up. To do so, we must have a better understanding of how this metabolism operates in order to determine the advantages and limitations of relying on methanogenic consortia for remediation. Syntrophy, meaning `feeding together', is a mode of microbial metabolism wherein different species must cooperate (for thermodynamic reasons) to carry out metabolic processes. Syntrophic microbial processes play key roles in large-scale beneficial industrial processes such as waste water treatment and make significant contributions to carbon cycling in anaerobic ecosystems. As such, syntrophy has mainly been studied using microbes that metabolize relatively simple carbon sources (such as fatty acids). As with fatty acids, methanogenic hydrocarbon metabolism must occur via syntrophic processes wherein cooperation among microbial species is needed to break down a given hydrocarbon to carbon dioxide and methane. However, little is known about the ecological principles of syntrophy in hydrocarbon-containing methanogenic ecosystems. Thus, the long-term objective of this research program is to elucidate the fundamental scientific principles underlying syntrophic hydrocarbon metabolism under methanogenic conditions that will be accomplished via two major short-term objectives. Objective 1 will be to improve upon and/or develop new strategies for cultivating syntrophic hydrocarbon-degrading methanogenic consortia in order to decrease lag times and improve rates of metabolism to enable more efficient study of syntrophic hydrocarbon metabolism. This objective will use a cultivation approach to test the use of various medium additives, solid supports, and growth conditions to improve rates of metabolism. Objective 2 will be to identify and quantify the key syntrophy genes and hydrocarbon-degrading genes that are expressed during methanogenic hydrocarbon metabolism using molecular biology approaches. This information is currently unknown. The proposed research will address major gaps in the fields of syntrophy and methanogenic hydrocarbon metabolism, leading to fundamental scientific discoveries and potential applications for contaminated site remediation.  The outcome of the research will be of great benefit to Canada by helping to ensure clean environments (such as groundwater resources). Through the proposed program, many highly qualified personnel will be trained in diverse technical skills (ranging from analytical chemistry to genomics) and soft skills (leadership, communication) that will position them well for jobs in academia, industry, or government.

碳氢化合物溢出到地下环境中，例如地下水含水层，经常导致甲烷生成条件的发展。许多研究表明，可以通过微生物将碳氢化合物生物降解至甲烷，这表明我们可能能够依靠这种微生物活性来清理受污染的现场。为此，我们必须更好地了解这种新陈代谢如何运作，以确定依靠甲烷剂联盟进行修复的优势和局限性。 Syntrophy，意思是“一起喂养”，是一种微生物代谢的一种模式，其中不同的物种（出于热力学原因）必须合作以进行代谢过程。综合症微生物过程在大规模有益工业过程中起着关键作用，例如废水处理，并为厌氧生态系统中的碳循环做出了重大贡献。因此，综合体主要是使用微生物来代谢相对简单的碳源（例如脂肪酸）的研究。与脂肪酸一样，必须通过综合学过程发生甲烷基烃代谢，其中需要微生物物种之间的合作来分解给定的烃与二氧化碳和甲烷生态系统。然而，关于含碳氢化合物的甲烷生态系统中综合体的生态学原理知之甚少。这是该研究计划的长期目标是阐明在甲烷造型条件下综合碳氢化合物代谢的基本科学原理，这将通过两个主要的短期目标来实现。目标1将是改善和/或制定新的策略，以培养降解嗜碳碳酸化的甲烷植物联盟，以减少滞后时间并改善代谢率，以便对综合性氢学代谢进行更有效的研究。该目标将使用一种培养方法来测试各种中等添加剂，稳定支持和增长条件的使用，以提高新陈代谢的速度。目标2将是使用分子生物学方法来识别和量化在甲烷基碳酸碳氢化合物代谢期间表达的关键综合基因和碳化碳降解基因。此信息目前未知。拟议的研究将解决综合和甲烷造型碳氢化合物代谢领域的主要差距，从而导致基本的科学发现以及受污染部位修复的潜在应用。这项研究的结果将通过帮助确保清洁环境（例如地下水资源）来对加拿大带来巨大好处。通过拟议的计划，许多高素质的人员将接受潜水员技术技能（从分析化学到基因组学到基因组学）和软技能（领导力，沟通）的培训，这些技能将使他们在学术界，工业或政府的工作中都很好地定位。