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High CO2 levels drive the TCA cycle backwards towards autotrophy

Author

Listed:
  • Lydia Steffens

    (University of Münster)

  • Eugenio Pettinato

    (University of Münster)

  • Thomas M. Steiner

    (Technische Universität München)

  • Achim Mall

    (University of Bergen
    University of Bergen)

  • Simone König

    (University of Münster)

  • Wolfgang Eisenreich

    (Technische Universität München)

  • Ivan A. Berg

    (University of Münster)

Abstract

It has recently been shown that in anaerobic microorganisms the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, including the seemingly irreversible citrate synthase reaction, can be reversed and used for autotrophic fixation of carbon1,2. This reversed oxidative TCA cycle requires ferredoxin-dependent 2-oxoglutarate synthase instead of the NAD-dependent dehydrogenase as well as extremely high levels of citrate synthase (more than 7% of the proteins in the cell). In this pathway, citrate synthase replaces ATP-citrate lyase of the reductive TCA cycle, which leads to the spending of one ATP-equivalent less per one turn of the cycle. Here we show, using the thermophilic sulfur-reducing deltaproteobacterium Hippea maritima, that this route is driven by high partial pressures of CO2. These high partial pressures are especially important for the removal of the product acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) through reductive carboxylation to pyruvate, which is catalysed by pyruvate synthase. The reversed oxidative TCA cycle may have been functioning in autotrophic CO2 fixation in a primordial atmosphere that is assumed to have been rich in CO2.

Suggested Citation

  • Lydia Steffens & Eugenio Pettinato & Thomas M. Steiner & Achim Mall & Simone König & Wolfgang Eisenreich & Ivan A. Berg, 2021. "High CO2 levels drive the TCA cycle backwards towards autotrophy," Nature, Nature, vol. 592(7856), pages 784-788, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:592:y:2021:i:7856:d:10.1038_s41586-021-03456-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03456-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Adenike Akinsemolu & Helen Onyeaka & Omololu Fagunwa & Adewale Henry Adenuga, 2023. "Toward a Resilient Future: The Promise of Microbial Bioeconomy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-13, April.
    2. Swathi Penumutchu & Benjamin J. Korry & Katharine Hewlett & Peter Belenky, 2023. "Fiber supplementation protects from antibiotic-induced gut microbiome dysbiosis by modulating gut redox potential," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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