Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus strain ΔH as a potential microorganism for bioconversion of CO2 to methane

Generally, all hydrogenotrophic methanogens can use the most important greenhouse gases (CO2 and CO) as sole carbon sources for energetic metabolism and biosynthesis of methane. Amongst them, Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus strain Delta H is a potential microorganism for the bioconversion of CO2 with H-2 and/or CO to methane in thermophilic anaerobic reactors. The present article has comprehensively summarized the recent genomic, metabolic, and transcriptional regulatory aspects of this microorganism. Extensive experimental studies of metabolic and transcription regulatory systems of this microorganism have been evidenced for its hydrogenotrophic methanogenic activity in diverse environments. Genome-scale metabolic models of several mesophilic methanogens have been developed for integrative analysis of their cellular and metabolic processes during methanogenesis. Moreover, these models have been bestowed a new avenue for the genome annotation, metabolic refinement, and model-driven systems engineering. Bioprocess operational parameters have been acquainted for a better understanding of the metabolic competence of this organism for the bioconversion of CO2 with external H-2 and/or CO to CH4 in the lab-scale reactors. It allows us to exploit this organism to capture flue gas carbon in the future if systems biological characteristics of this organism are unraveled to date. Hence, the systems biology perspective of this organism would expedite our acquaintance in the 'Power-to-Methane Gas' applications as well as biogas upgrading processes.