Comparative proteome analysis of propionate degradation by Syntrophobacter fumaroxidans in pure culture and in coculture with methanogens

Syntrophobacter fumaroxidans is a sulfate‐reducing bacterium able to grow on propionate axenically or in syntrophic interaction with methanogens or other sulfate‐reducing bacteria. We performed a proteome analysis of S. fumaroxidans growing with propionate axenically with sulfate or fumarate, and in syntrophy with Methanospirillum hungatei, Methanobacterium formicicum or Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. Special attention was put on the role of hydrogen and formate in interspecies electron transfer (IET) and energy conservation. Formate dehydrogenase Fdh1 and hydrogenase Hox were the main confurcating enzymes used for energy conservation. In the periplasm, Fdh2 and hydrogenase Hyn play an important role in reverse electron transport associated with succinate oxidation. Periplasmic Fdh3 and Fdh5 were involved in IET. The sulfate reduction pathway was poorly regulated and many enzymes associated with sulfate reduction (Sat, HppA, AprAB, DsrAB and DsrC) were abundant even at conditions where sulfate was not present. Proteins similar to heterodisulfide reductases (Hdr) were abundant. Hdr/Flox was detected in all conditions while HdrABC/HdrL was exclusively detected when sulfate was available; these complexes most likely confurcate electrons. Our results suggest that S. fumaroxidans mainly used formate for electron release and that different confurcating mechanisms were used in its sulfidogenic metabolism.