Choline utilization by Methanococcoides spp.

What is it about?

First report of a methanogenic archaeon to utilize choline and N,N-dimethylethanolamine as energy and growth substrate with ethanolamine as end product These Methanococcoides spp. do not rely on syntrophic partners to break the compounds down to classical methanogenic substrates such as di- and trimethylamine.

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Why is it important?

The unexplained rise in biogenic methane in the atmosphere since 2007 indicates that current models of the biological methane cycle are incomplete and that there is a significant lack of knowledge of the biological drivers and pathways. The environmental importance of the novel pathways is yet unknown, but as these methylotrophic methanogens are widespread and abundant in the environment and are using common biomolecules (choline, glycine betaine), they have the potential to strongly enhance near surface methanogenesis and methane release.