PublicationBiotin-producing archaea
14 September 2018, by Dr. Jennifer Chow
Archaea are microorganisms with a unique cell structure, physiology and molecular biology. Still, they are considered to be the third domain of living organisms along with eukaryotes and bacteria only since the late 1970s. Although their size approximates that of bacteria, their molecular biology is more similar to eukaryotes. There is still a lot of research needed to understand their systematics, metabolism and genetic equipment. For example, until recently, it was not known if there were Archaea capable of synthesizing biotin. Biotin, also known as vitamin B7 or vitamin H, is essential as a cofactor for a variety of carboxylases. These are enzymes necessary for many organisms regarding CO2 fixation, or fatty acid and amino acid synthesis. The organisms would then not be viable and the carbon cycle would be disrupted. So far, it has only been known that many bacteria, plants and fungi are able to produce biotin themselves.
In our study published in Scientific Reports, we were for the first time able to prove functionally that the Thaumarchaeon Nitrososphaera gargensis is able to produce biotin. For this purpose, certain genes of the biotin synthesis pathway of N. gargensis were introduced into bacterial mutants and tested. In addition, the activity of certain enzymes involved in biotin production has been studied very closely. This enabled us to elucidate the function of these previously unknown proteins of the Archaeon.
Original work:
The Thaumarchaeon N. gargensis carries functional bioABD genes and has a promiscuous E. coli ΔbioH-complementing esterase EstN1
Jennifer Chow, Dominik Danso, Manuel Ferrer and Wolfgang R. Streit
Scientific Reportsvolume 8, Article number: 13823 (2018). Published: 14 September 2018. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-32059-0
For questions:
Dr. Jennifer Chow
Universität Hamburg
Mikrobiologie & Biotechnologie
Tel. +49 40 428 16-451
E-Mail: jennifer.chow@uni-hamburg.de