Extracellular RNA drives Electromethanogenesis in a Methanogenic Archaeon

• Published in: bioRxiv
• Main Authors: Kotoky, Rhitu, Ajunwa, Obinna Markraphael, Kawaichi, Satoshi, Meyer, Rikke Louise, Rotaru, Amelia-Elena
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 06.07.2025
• Edition: 1.1
• Subjects: Microbiology; Extracellular RNA; Methanosarcina; extracellular nucleic acids; Cathode; G-quadruplex; Nuclease; methanogens; Electromethanogenesis; Extracellular Electron Transfer

Methanogenic archaea generate two-thirds of Earth’s methane. Some reduce CO2 by drawing electrons directly from solid substrates. Yet many, including Methanosarcina barkeri, lack the multiheme cytochromes (MHCs), that drive extracellular electron transfer (EET) in other microbes. Here we show that a...