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Basic information
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| Title | Composite map of the Hdr-Vhu-Fdh dimer | |||||||||
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Keywords | Methanogenesis / Super-assembly / Flavin-based electron bifurcation / heterodisulfide-reductase / polyferredoxin / formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase / electron transport / oxidoreductase | |||||||||
| Function / homology | Function and homology informationformate:CoB-CoM heterodisulfide,ferredoxin reductase / formate dehydrogenase (coenzyme F420) / formate dehydrogenase (coenzyme F420) activity / hydrogen dehydrogenase / hydrogen dehydrogenase activity / Oxidoreductases; Acting on hydrogen as donor; With unknown physiological acceptors / H2:CoB-CoM heterodisulfide,ferredoxin reductase / formate metabolic process / CoB--CoM heterodisulfide reductase activity / formate dehydrogenase (NAD+) activity ...formate:CoB-CoM heterodisulfide,ferredoxin reductase / formate dehydrogenase (coenzyme F420) / formate dehydrogenase (coenzyme F420) activity / hydrogen dehydrogenase / hydrogen dehydrogenase activity / Oxidoreductases; Acting on hydrogen as donor; With unknown physiological acceptors / H2:CoB-CoM heterodisulfide,ferredoxin reductase / formate metabolic process / CoB--CoM heterodisulfide reductase activity / formate dehydrogenase (NAD+) activity / methanogenesis / ferredoxin hydrogenase activity / molybdopterin cofactor binding / nickel cation binding / NADH dehydrogenase activity / respiratory electron transport chain / 2 iron, 2 sulfur cluster binding / 4 iron, 4 sulfur cluster binding / oxidoreductase activity / membrane / metal ion binding / plasma membrane Similarity search - Function | |||||||||
| Biological species | Methanococcus maripaludis S2 (archaea) / Methanococcus maripaludis (archaea) | |||||||||
| Method | single particle reconstruction / cryo EM / Resolution: 4.0 Å | |||||||||
Authors | Paul S / Schuller JM | |||||||||
| Funding support | Germany, European Union, 2 items
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Citation | Journal: Nature / Year: 2026Title: Architecture of the 8 MDa Hdr-Vhu-Fwd super-assembly in class I methanogens. Authors: Sophia Paul / Tomas C Pascoa / Max A Klamke / Stefan Bohn / Frank Abendroth / Darja Deobald / Olalla Vázquez / Sven T Stripp / Jan M Schuller / ![]() Abstract: Methanogens are central to global carbon cycling and among the largest biological sources of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. At the heart of their energy metabolism lies the Hdr-Vhu-Fwd super- ...Methanogens are central to global carbon cycling and among the largest biological sources of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. At the heart of their energy metabolism lies the Hdr-Vhu-Fwd super-assembly, which couples H oxidation with CO reduction through flavin-based electron bifurcation. Here we present the cryogenic electron microscopy structure of the Hdr-Vhu-Fwd super-assembly from Methanococcus maripaludis, revealing an 8 MDa complex comprising 252 polypeptide chains and over 600 redox cofactors. Cryo-electron tomography further support that this super-assembly forms an intact structure within the cytoplasm of intact cells. This architecture comprises two hexameric HdrABC-Vhu rings linked by a tetrameric FwdF core, forming a continuous, circular electron chain. In this unique arrangement, 12 polyferredoxin subunits (VhuB) connect the Vhu-Hdr and Fwd complexes, thereby coupling electron bifurcation with CO reduction and directly linking the last and the first step of methanogenesis. Moreover, we identify a modular variant of the complex in which the [NiFe]-hydrogenase Vhu is substituted by tungsten-containing formate dehydrogenase (FdhAB), indicating flexible integration of electron-input modules facilitating metabolic adaptation under diverse environmental conditions. Analysis of the taxonomic distribution reveals that this architecture is specific to class I methanogens and is distinct from the smaller Hdr-Fmd complex of class II. Together, our study reveals that the the Hdr-Vhu-Fwd super-assembly has a modular and adaptable bioenergetic assembly, suggesting a lineage-specific architecture to adapt to diverse anaerobic niches. | |||||||||
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Structure visualization
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Downloads & links
-EMDB archive
| Map data | emd_55451.map.gz | 5.8 MB | EMDB map data format | |
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| Header (meta data) | emd-55451-v30.xml emd-55451.xml | 31.5 KB 31.5 KB | Display Display | EMDB header |
| Images | emd_55451.png | 72 KB | ||
| Filedesc metadata | emd-55451.cif.gz | 9.2 KB | ||
| Archive directory | http://ftp.pdbj.org/pub/emdb/structures/EMD-55451 ftp://ftp.pdbj.org/pub/emdb/structures/EMD-55451 | HTTPS FTP |
-Related structure data
| Related structure data | ![]() 9t1sMC ![]() 9sfiC C: citing same article ( M: atomic model generated by this map |
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| Similar structure data | Similarity search - Function & homology F&H Search |
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Links
| EMDB pages | EMDB (EBI/PDBe) / EMDataResource |
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| Related items in Molecule of the Month |
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Map
| File | Download / File: emd_55451.map.gz / Format: CCP4 / Size: 1.9 GB / Type: IMAGE STORED AS FLOATING POINT NUMBER (4 BYTES) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Projections & slices | Image control
Images are generated by Spider. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voxel size | X=Y=Z: 0.95 Å | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Density |
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| Symmetry | Space group: 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Details | EMDB XML:
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-Supplemental data
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Sample components
+Entire : Composite map of the Heterodisulfide-Vhu Hydrogenase- Formate deh...
+Supramolecule #1: Composite map of the Heterodisulfide-Vhu Hydrogenase- Formate deh...
+Macromolecule #1: CoB--CoM heterodisulfide reductase iron-sulfur subunit A
+Macromolecule #2: Heterodisulfide reductase subunit B
+Macromolecule #3: H(2)/formate:CoB-CoM heterodisulfide,ferredoxin reductase subunit C2
+Macromolecule #4: Coenzyme F420-reducing hydrogenase, alpha subunit
+Macromolecule #5: F420-non-reducing hydrogenase small subunit
+Macromolecule #6: F420-non-reducing hydrogenase subunit delta
+Macromolecule #7: F420 non-reducing hydrogenase subunit
+Macromolecule #8: formate dehydrogenase (coenzyme F420)
+Macromolecule #9: formate dehydrogenase (coenzyme F420)
+Macromolecule #10: IRON/SULFUR CLUSTER
+Macromolecule #11: FLAVIN-ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE
+Macromolecule #12: Non-cubane [4Fe-4S]-cluster
+Macromolecule #13: formyl[bis(hydrocyanato-1kappaC)]ironnickel(Fe-Ni)
+Macromolecule #14: FE2/S2 (INORGANIC) CLUSTER
+Macromolecule #15: TUNGSTEN ION
+Macromolecule #16: 2-AMINO-5,6-DIMERCAPTO-7-METHYL-3,7,8A,9-TETRAHYDRO-8-OXA-1,3,9,1...
-Experimental details
-Structure determination
| Method | cryo EM |
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Processing | single particle reconstruction |
| Aggregation state | particle |
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Sample preparation
| Buffer | pH: 7.6 Component:
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| Grid | Model: Quantifoil R2/1 / Material: COPPER / Mesh: 300 | |||||||||||||||
| Vitrification | Cryogen name: ETHANE-PROPANE / Chamber humidity: 100 % / Chamber temperature: 279 K / Instrument: FEI VITROBOT MARK IV Details: Vitrification under strict anaerobic conditions inside a Coy Lab's vinyl anaerobic chamber (95% N2/ 5% H2). |
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Electron microscopy
| Microscope | TFS KRIOS |
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| Image recording | Film or detector model: FEI FALCON IV (4k x 4k) / Average electron dose: 60.0 e/Å2 |
| Electron beam | Acceleration voltage: 300 kV / Electron source: FIELD EMISSION GUN |
| Electron optics | Illumination mode: FLOOD BEAM / Imaging mode: BRIGHT FIELD / Cs: 2.7 mm / Nominal defocus max: 2.0 µm / Nominal defocus min: 0.5 µm |
| Experimental equipment | ![]() Model: Titan Krios / Image courtesy: FEI Company |
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About Yorodumi




Keywords
Methanococcus maripaludis S2 (archaea)
Authors
Germany, European Union, 2 items
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Processing
FIELD EMISSION GUN
