Methanococcus maripaludis Employs Three Functional Heterodisulfide Reductase Complexes for Flavin-Based Electron Bifurcation Using Hydrogen and Formate

Hydrogenotrophic methanogens oxidize molecular hydrogen to reduce carbon dioxide to methane. In methanogens without cytochromes, the initial endergonic reduction of CO2 to formylmethanofuran with H2-derived electrons is coupled to the exergonic reduction of a heterodisulfide of coenzymes B and M by flavin-based electron bifurcation (FBEB). In Methanococcus maripaludis, FBEB is performed by a heterodisulfide reductase (Hdr) enzyme complex that involves hydrogenase (Vhu), although formate dehydrogenase (Fdh) has been proposed as an alternative to Vhu. We have identified and purified three Hdr complexes of M. maripaludis, where homodimeric Hdr complexes containing (Vhu)2 or (Fdh)2 were found, in addition to a heterocomplex that contains both Vhu and Fdh. Formate was found in in vitro assays using the purified Hdr complex to act directly as the electron donor for FBEB via the associated Fdh. Furthermore, while ferredoxin was slowly reduced to 30% [−360 mV vs the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE)] by H2 and formate (0.8 atm and 30 mM, according to thermodynamics), the addition of CoB–S–S–CoM as the high-potential electron acceptor (E°′ = −140 mV vs SHE; to induce FBEB) resulted in the rapid and more complete reduction of Fd to 94% (−455 mV vs SHE).