Complete Genomic Sequence of the Thermophilic and Hydrogenotrophic Methanogen Methanothermobacter sp. Strain KEPCO-1.

Here, we describe the complete genome of Methanothermobacter sp. strain KEPCO-1, a thermophilic and hydrogenotrophic methanogen that was isolated from an anaerobic digester in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The genome of KEPCO-1 shares 96.98% of its sequence with Methanothermobacter marburgensis strain DSM 2133 and consists of 1,741,029 bp, with 1,822 protein-coding genes, 44 noncoding RNAs, and a GC content of 48.47%. The development of this genome will facilitate future genomic studies of KEPCO-1.

Simultaneous production of methane and acetate by thermophilic mixed culture from carbon dioxide in bioelectrochemical system.

A thermophilic bioelectrochemical system was operated with mixed culture at 60 °C, while introducing only carbon dioxide. Methane production was initially observed in a membrane-less single chamber without a mediator, but eventually acetate was also found as 10.5 g/L after 137 days of operation. Comparing the microbial communities before and after the electricity supply using next-generation sequencing technology, acetoclastic methanogens such as Methanosaeta concilii were increased, and this result also indicates the production of acetate in bioelectrochemical CO2 conversion system. With the advent of sulfate-reducing bacteria, Desulfotomaculum peckii was considered to be an acetate production promoter. These high production results for both methane and acetate can be applied to CO2 storage using excess electricity for value-added chemicals.