Biological nano-motor with hybrid drive discovered

Methane building archaeae can be counted to the most original forms of life on earth. In the deep oceans those microorganisms gain energy for their metabolism with the generation of methane out of water and carbon dioxide. Those organisms exist at the edge of life, if only their energy is considered. How the methane generation and the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) work together has now been explained by microbiologists from Goethe-University and their colleagues from Max-Planck-Institute for bio physics in Frankfurt.

In the scientific journal PNAS the scientists reported that the archaeon methanosarcina acetivorans use the energy, which is released during the generation of methane, to transport sodium ions and protons out of the cell. An electrochemical gradient is produced, comparable to the charging of a battery. ATP synthase now uses this “battery power” to synthesize ATP. Therefor the organisms have a membrane-bound turbine. Like a turbin that transforms “water force” into electrical energy the organism’s turbine is driven by the ions that flow back into the cytoplasm.

So far only turbines have been known that are driven either by sodium ions or by protons, but the M. acetivorans’ ATP synthase has a turbine that uses the gradient of sodium ions as well as protons. “The original forms of life might have used exclusively sodium ions for their energy conservation. The modern life forms then changed to protons”, explains Prof. Volker Mülller from the department molecular micro biology and bio energetics at Goethe-University. “Because M. acetivorans is so far the only known living organism that is able to use both gradients it seems obvious to consider it as an evolutionary link”.

The idea to research that area comes from the climatology. “My doctoral student Katharina Schlegel wanted to do her research at Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) about the adaption of methane building archaeae to dry and saline places.

When we realized that we are investgating a new motor, the bio chemical and molecular analyses were continued in the special research project “Transport and communication over bio membranes” in cooperation with the biophysicists“, explains Müller, who as well is the special research projects project leader.

For 2 years the cooperation with the Max-Planck-Institute for biophysics has existed in the special research project and the excellence cluster “Macromolecular Complexes”. “Such a close interaction between applied and basic research and a broad thematic diversity can only be found in Frankfurt”, enjoys Prof. Müller the joint success.

Information:
Prof. Volker Müller,
Phone: +49 69 798-29507
VMueller@bio.uni-frankfurt.de

Source: Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main