Anaerobic short-chain gaseous alkane oxidation coupled to nitrate reduction

This project aims to perform a systematic investigation of the novel microbial processes of nitrate-dependent anaerobic oxidation of short-chain gaseous alkanes (SCGAs, including ethane, propane and butane). These processes are suggested to be major sinks for SCGAs, which are potent gases impacting global air quality and tropospheric chemistry. By characterising ecophysiology of discovered microbes, identifying new microbes and deciphering their metabolic pathways, this project expects to provide new knowledge on undiscovered microorganisms and undescribed links between global SCGA and nitrogen cycles. It will also contribute significantly to our capability to more reliably predict the global SCGA emissions in a changing climate.

Collaborators

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

Publications

Wu, M., Liu, X., Musat, F. and Guo, J. Microbial oxidation of short-chain gaseous alkanes. Nat Microbiol 10, 1042-1054 (2025). https://doi.org:10.1038/s41564-025-01982-0

Wu, M., Li, J., Leu, A.O., Erler, D.V., Stark, T., Tyson, G.W., Yuan, Z., McIlroy, S.J. and Guo, J. Anaerobic oxidation of propane coupled to nitrate reduction by a lineage within the class Symbiobacteriia. Nat Commun 13, 6115 (2022). https://doi.org:10.1038/s41467-022-33872-y

Wu, M., Li, J., Lai, C.Y., Leu, A.O., Sun, S., Gu, R., Erler, D.V., Liu, L., Li, L., Tyson, G.W., Yuan, Z., McIlroy, S.J. and Guo, J. Nitrate-driven anaerobic oxidation of ethane and butane by bacteria. The ISME Journal 18 (2024). https://doi.org:10.1093/ismejo/wrad011

Wu, M., Liu, X., Engelberts, J.P., Tyson, G.W., McIlroy, S.J. and Guo, J. Anaerobic oxidation of ammonium and short-chain gaseous alkanes coupled to nitrate reduction by a bacterial consortium. The ISME Journal 18, wrae063 (2024). https://doi.org:10.1093/ismejo/wrae063

Liu, X., Wu, M. and Guo, J. Coupling Nitrate-Dependent Anaerobic Ethane Degradation with Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation. Environ Sci Technol 58, 11525-11533 (2024). https://doi.org:10.1021/acs.est.4c00488

Liu, X., Yuan, Z., Wu, M. and Guo, J. Sulfate-reducing capability of nitrate-dependent anaerobic gaseous alkanes degrader. Water Res, 123507 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2025.123507