Strained Partnership: Biocompatibility and Transcriptomic Responses of Hydrogenotrophic Methanogens to Methyl Diethanolamine in Bio-integrated Carbon Capture and Utilization.
- 1Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, DK-8000Aarhus C, Denmark.
- 2The Novo Nordisk Foundation CO2 Research Center (CORC), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, DK-8000Aarhus C, Denmark.
- 3Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, DK-9220, Aalborg E, Denmark.
Abstract
Biointegrated carbon capture and utilization (BICCU) represents a promising alternative to conventional carbon capture technologies, combining microbial methanogenesis with CO2 capture agents, such as methyl diethanolamine (MDEA), to produce renewable methane from dilute CO2 sources. However, the biotoxicity of these solvents poses a major challenge to the viability of the BICCU approach. This study investigates the biocompatibility and physiological responses ofMethanococcus maripaludis and Methanosarcina barkeri to MDEA, through batch experiments and transcriptomic analysis. Both methanogens exhibited inhibited methane production when exposed to MDEA, with M. barkeri displaying higher sensitivity. M. maripaludis maintained the highest CH4 production rate at 30 mmol/L MDEA, while M. barkeri was almost fully inhibited at this concentration. Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of genes associated with S-layer formation, cell envelope biogenesis, glycosyltransferase activity, and ion transport, alongside downregulation of lysine biosynthesis and secretion system genes. These findings suggest a metabolic trade-off, where cellular energy is reallocated toward stress response mechanisms. Results demonstrate that, while MDEA can be integrated with microorganisms, the exact response will depend on the methanogenic strain. Future research should focus on more biocompatible solvents and the selection of resilient methanogenic strains.
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BibTeX
@article{wijesooriya2026strained,
title = {{Strained Partnership: Biocompatibility and Transcriptomic Responses of Hydrogenotrophic Methanogens to Methyl Diethanolamine in Bio-integrated Carbon Capture and Utilization.}},
author = {Madhuni M Wijesooriya and Mathias Eskildsen and Jeppe L Nielsen and Michael V W Kofoed},
journal = {Environmental science \& technology},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.6c01434},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42916233},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Strained Partnership: Biocompatibility and Transcriptomic Responses of Hydrogenotrophic Methanogens to Methyl Diethanolamine in Bio-integrated Carbon Capture and Utilization.
AU - Madhuni M Wijesooriya
AU - Mathias Eskildsen
AU - Jeppe L Nielsen
AU - Michael V W Kofoed
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Environmental science & technology
DO - 10.1021/acs.est.6c01434
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42916233
AB - Biointegrated carbon capture and utilization (BICCU) represents a promising alternative to conventional carbon capture technologies, combining microbial methanogenesis with CO2 capture agents, such as methyl diethanolamine (MDEA), to produce renewable methane from dilute CO2 sources. However, the biotoxicity of these solvents poses a major challenge to the viability of the BICCU approach. This study investigates the biocompatibility and physiological responses ofMethanococcus maripaludis and Methanosarcina barkeri to MDEA, through batch experiments and transcriptomic analysis. Both methanogens exhibited inhibited methane production when exposed to MDEA, with M. barkeri displaying higher sensitivity. M. maripaludis maintained the highest CH4 production rate at 30 mmol/L MDEA, while M. barkeri was almost fully inhibited at this concentration. Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of genes associated with S-layer formation, cell envelope biogenesis, glycosyltransferase activity, and ion transport, alongside downregulation of lysine biosynthesis and secretion system genes. These findings suggest a metabolic trade-off, where cellular energy is reallocated toward stress response mechanisms. Results demonstrate that, while MDEA can be integrated with microorganisms, the exact response will depend on the methanogenic strain. Future research should focus on more biocompatible solvents and the selection of resilient methanogenic strains.
SN - 0013-936X
SN - 1520-5851
ER -