Thermodynamics of Formate-Oxidizing Metabolism and Implications for H2 Production |
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Authors: | Jae Kyu Lim Seung Seob Bae Tae Wan Kim Jung-Hyun Lee Hyun Sook Lee Sung Gyun Kang |
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Institution: | aKorea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Ansan, South Korea;bDepartment of Marine Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea |
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Abstract: | Formate-dependent proton reduction to H2 (HCOO− + H2O → HCO3− + H2) has been reported for hyperthermophilic Thermococcus strains. In this study, a hyperthermophilic archaeon, Thermococcus onnurineus strain NA1, yielded H2 accumulation to a partial pressure of 1 × 105 to 7 × 105 Pa until the values of Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) reached near thermodynamic equilibrium (−1 to −3 kJ mol−1). The bioenergetic requirement for the metabolism to conserve energy was demonstrated by ΔG values as small as −5 kJ mol−1, which are less than the biological minimum energy quantum, −20 kJ mol−1, as calculated by Schink (B. Schink, Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 61:262-280, 1997). Considering formate as a possible H2 storage material, the H2 production potential of the strain was assessed. The volumetric H2 production rate increased linearly with increasing cell density, leading to 2,820 mmol liter−1 h−1 at an optical density at 600 nm (OD600) of 18.6, and resulted in the high specific H2 production rates of 404 ± 6 mmol g−1 h−1. The H2 productivity indicates the great potential of T. onnurineus strain NA1 for practical application in comparison with H2-producing microbes. Our result demonstrates that T. onnurineus strain NA1 has a highly efficient metabolic system to thrive on formate in hydrothermal systems. |
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