Researchers claimed that new gene clusters, which produce excess hydrogen, could be used for green energy.

Vibrionaceae, a family of marine bacteria, are known for their bioluminescence and their connection to the cholera pathogen. However, they have not been used for biofuel production until now.

These bacteria can produce hydrogen gas by breaking down formate, a process with potential for green energy.

A team of researchers, including Professor Tomoo Sawabe from Hokkaido University, Ramesh Kumar Natarajan from India, and Fabiano Thompson from Brazil, used genome sequencing to study this process. Their findings were published in Current Microbiology.

The researchers analyzed all 16 known Vibrionaceae species, which are often found living with deep-sea animals. They focused on the Hyf-type formate hydrogenlyase (FHL) gene cluster, which helps break down formate into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. This enzyme complex also exists in Escherichia coli, but Vibrionaceae produce much more hydrogen.

Professor Tomoo Sawabe said: 'These analyses reveal unexpected diversity of FHL gene clusters and relationships between gene clusters and function in hydrogen production ability.'

The group discovered two new FHL gene clusters, bringing the total to six in Vibrionaceae. They believe these bacteria evolved different hydrogen production strategies based on their environments.

The study found that some bacteria, like Vibrio tritonius and Vibrio porteresiae, produced the most hydrogen, while others, like Vibrio aerogenes and Vibrio mangrovi, produced the least.

Hydrogen production was linked to how effectively the bacteria could reabsorb formate.

Sawabe noted that these traits suggest formate metabolism is key to hydrogen production in some Vibrionaceae species.

The findings support the idea that some species evolved higher hydrogen output to detoxify formate from their surroundings.