Expression of different types of [FeFe]-hydrogenase genes in bacteria isolated from a population of a bio-hydrogen pilot-scale plant

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 39; no. 17; pp. 9018 - 9027
• Main Authors: MORRA, Simone, ARIZZI, Mariaconcetta, ALLEGRA, Paola, LA LICATA, Barbara, SAGNELLI, Fabio, ZITELLA, Paola, GILARDI, Gianfranco, VALETTI, Francesca
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier 01.06.2014
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Bacteria; Classification; Clostridium; Energy; Enterococcus; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Gene expression; Genes; Hydrogen; Hydrogen-based energy; Lactobacillus; Plants (organisms); Staphylococcus; Wastes; Clostridium; Pilot plant; Bio-hydrogen; Enzyme; Hydrogen; Clostridiales; Waste; Hydrogenase; [FeFe] -hydrogenase; Bacterial consortium; Clostridiaceae; Bacteria; Oxidoreductases
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.04.009

[FeFe]-hydrogenases are the enzymes responsible for high yield H sub(2) production during dark fermentation in bio-hydrogen production plants. The culturable bacterial population present in a pilot-scale plant efficiently producing H sub(2) from waste materials was isolated, classified and identified by means of 16S rDNA gene analysis. The culturable part of the mixed population consists of nine bacterial species that include non-hydrogen producers (Lactobacillus, Enterococcus and Staphylococcus) and several Clostridium that are directly responsible for H sub(2) production. An extensive analysis of the expression of [FeFe]-hydrogenases in the three best producer strains was achieved by RT-PCR, covering the complete set of known genes for each species. This revealed that during H sub(2) production there are several different [FeFe]-hydrogenases simultaneously expressed, with genes belonging to the same phylogenetic and structural classification sharing similar transcriptional profiles.