@article{fdi:010062668,
  title = {{A}naerobic oxidation of long-chain n-alkanes by the hyperthermophilic sulfate-reducing archaeon, {A}rchaeoglobus fulgidus},
  author = {{K}helifi, {N}. and {A}li, {O}. {A}. and {R}oche, {P}. and {G}rossi, {V}. and {B}rochier-{A}rmanet, {C}. and {V}alette, {O}. and {O}llivier, {B}ernard and {D}olla, {A}. and {H}irschler-{R}ea, {A}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he thermophilic sulfate-reducing archaeon {A}rchaeoglobus fulgidus strain {VC}-16 ({DSM} 4304), which is known to oxidize fatty acids and n-alkenes, was shown to oxidize saturated hydrocarbons (n-alkanes in the range {C}-10-{C}-21) with thiosulfate or sulfate as a terminal electron acceptor. {T}he amount of n-hexadecane degradation observed was in stoichiometric agreement with the theoretically expected amount of thiosulfate reduction. {O}ne of the pathways used by anaerobic microorganisms to activate alkanes is addition to fumarate that involves alkylsuccinate synthase as a key enzyme. {A} search for genes encoding homologous enzymes in {A}. fulgidus identified the pfl{D} gene (locus-tag {AF}1449) that was previously annotated as a pyruvate formate lyase. {A} phylogenetic analysis revealed that this gene is of bacterial origin and was likely acquired by {A}. fulgidus from a bacterial donor through a horizontal gene transfer. {B}ased on three-dimensional modeling of the corresponding protein and molecular dynamic simulations, we hypothesize an alkylsuccinate synthase activity for this gene product. {T}he pfl{D} gene expression was upregulated during the growth of {A}. fulgidus on an n-alkane ({C}-16) compared with growth on a fatty acid. {O}ur results suggest that anaerobic alkane degradation in {A}. fulgidus may involve the gene pfl{D} in alkane activation through addition to fumarate. {T}hese findings highlight the possible importance of hydrocarbon oxidation at high temperatures by {A}. fulgidus in hydrothermal vents and the deep biosphere.},
  keywords = {alkylsuccinate synthase ; anaerobic hydrocarbon oxidation ; {A}rchaea ; hyperthermophilic ; {P}fl{D} ; {AF}1449},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}sme {J}ournal},
  volume = {8},
  numero = {11},
  pages = {2153--2166},
  ISSN = {1751-7362},
  year = {2014},
  DOI = {10.1038/ismej.2014.58},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010062668},
}