Methanotrophs and copper

• Published in: FEMS microbiology reviews 2010-07, Vol.34 (4), p.496-531
• Main Authors: Semrau, Jeremy D., DiSpirito, Alan A., Yoon, Sukhwan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Bioremediation; Carbon; Carbon cycle; Carbon dioxide; chalkophore; Copper; Copper - metabolism; Emissions; Environmental Microbiology; Fluxes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Greenhouse effect; greenhouse gas control; Greenhouse gases; Methane; Methane - metabolism; Methanotrophic bacteria; methanotrophy; Microbial activity; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Models, Biological; Monooxygenase; Organic compounds; Oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; particulate methane monooxygenase; Phylogeny; pollutant degradation; protein production; Proteomes; Substrates
• ISSN: 0168-6445; 1574-6976; 1574-6976
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2010.00212.x

Abstract Methanotrophs, cells that consume methane (CH4) as their sole source of carbon and energy, play key roles in the global carbon cycle, including controlling anthropogenic and natural emissions of CH4, the second-most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. These cells have also been widely used for bioremediation of chlorinated solvents, and help sustain diverse microbial communities as well as higher organisms through the conversion of CH4 to complex organic compounds (e.g. in deep ocean and subterranean environments with substantial CH4 fluxes). It has been well-known for over 30 years that copper (Cu) plays a key role in the physiology and activity of methanotrophs, but it is only recently that we have begun to understand how these cells collect Cu, the role Cu plays in CH4 oxidation by the particulate CH4 monooxygenase, the effect of Cu on the proteome, and how Cu affects the ability of methanotrophs to oxidize different substrates. Here we summarize the current state of knowledge of the phylogeny, environmental distribution, and potential applications of methanotrophs for regional and global issues, as well as the role of Cu in regulating gene expression and proteome in these cells, its effects on enzymatic and whole-cell activity, and the novel Cu uptake system used by methanotrophs.