A systems level predictive model for global gene regulation of methanogenesis in a hydrogenotrophic methanogen

Genome Res. 2013 Nov;23(11):1839-51. doi: 10.1101/gr.153916.112. Epub 2013 Oct 2.

Abstract

Methanogens catalyze the critical methane-producing step (called methanogenesis) in the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter. Here, we present the first predictive model of global gene regulation of methanogenesis in a hydrogenotrophic methanogen, Methanococcus maripaludis. We generated a comprehensive list of genes (protein-coding and noncoding) for M. maripaludis through integrated analysis of the transcriptome structure and a newly constructed Peptide Atlas. The environment and gene-regulatory influence network (EGRIN) model of the strain was constructed from a compendium of transcriptome data that was collected over 58 different steady-state and time-course experiments that were performed in chemostats or batch cultures under a spectrum of environmental perturbations that modulated methanogenesis. Analyses of the EGRIN model have revealed novel components of methanogenesis that included at least three additional protein-coding genes of previously unknown function as well as one noncoding RNA. We discovered that at least five regulatory mechanisms act in a combinatorial scheme to intercoordinate key steps of methanogenesis with different processes such as motility, ATP biosynthesis, and carbon assimilation. Through a combination of genetic and environmental perturbation experiments we have validated the EGRIN-predicted role of two novel transcription factors in the regulation of phosphate-dependent repression of formate dehydrogenase-a key enzyme in the methanogenesis pathway. The EGRIN model demonstrates regulatory affiliations within methanogenesis as well as between methanogenesis and other cellular functions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Archaeal Proteins / genetics
  • Archaeal Proteins / metabolism
  • Formate Dehydrogenases / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Archaeal
  • Gene-Environment Interaction
  • Genes, Archaeal*
  • Hydrogen / metabolism
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / genetics*
  • Methane / biosynthesis*
  • Methanococcus / enzymology*
  • Methanococcus / genetics*
  • Methanococcus / metabolism
  • Models, Genetic
  • Sequence Deletion

Substances

  • Archaeal Proteins
  • Hydrogen
  • Formate Dehydrogenases
  • Methane

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE42115
  • GEO/GSE42126
  • GEO/GSE42130
  • GEO/GSE42143
  • GEO/GSE42159
  • GEO/GSE42162
  • GEO/GSE42164
  • GEO/GSE42165
  • GEO/GSE42166
  • GEO/GSE42167