Methanosarcina acetivorans is a model archaeon with renewed interest due to its unique reversible methane production pathways. However, the mechanism and relevant pathways implicated in (co)utilizing novel carbon substrates in this organism are still not fully understood. An updated genome-scale metabolic model of M. acetivorans is introduced (iMAC868 containing 868 genes, 845 reactions, and 718 metabolites) by integrating information from two previously reconstructed metabolic models (i.e., iVS941 and iMB745), modifying 17 reactions, adding 24 new reactions, and revising 64 gene-protein-reaction associations based on newly available information. The new model establishes improved predictions of growth yields on native substrates and is capable of correctly predicting the knockout outcomes for 27 out of 28 gene deletion mutants. By tracing a bifurcated electron flow mechanism, the iMAC868 model predicts thermodynamically feasible (co)utilization pathway of methane and bicarbonate using various terminal electron acceptors through the reversal of the aceticlastic pathway. The iMAC868 model of M. acetivorans also predicts maximum carbon yields of acetate and major biofuel candidate molecules.

Related Publications:

Nazem-Bokaee H., Gopalakrishnan S., Ferry J.G., Wood T.K., Maranas C.D. (2016), "Assessing methanotrophy and carbon fixation for biofuel production by Methanosarcina acetivorans.", Microbial Cell Factories PMID: 26776497.


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