Methanofollis
From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Methanofollis
Also see Methanogens overview.
Contents |
Classification
Higher order taxa
Archaea; Euryarchaeota; Methanomicrobia; Methanomicrobiales; Methanomicrobiaceae
Species
Methanofollis aquaemaris, M. formosanus, M. liminatans, M. tationis
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NCBI: Taxonomy Genome |
Description and significance
Methanofollis ("a methane-producing bag") is a non-motile, Gram-negative, obligately anaerobic, mesophilic archaeon that produces methane. It grows between the temperatures 20-45°C (optimuim = 34-40°C), and at the pH value of around 7.
Genome structure
The genome of the archaeon has not yet sequenced. The G + C content of the DNA is determined to be 60.0%.
Cell structure and metabolism
The cells of Methanofollis are highly irregular cocci, with diameter of 1.25-2.0µm. The major polar lipids are phospholipids, glycolipids, and phosphoglycolipids.
It utilizes H2/CO2, formate, 2-propanol/CO2, and 2-butanol/CO2 for growth and methanogenesis. No growth has been observed on acetate, trimethylamine, methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, isobutanol, or 2-butanol as catabolic substrates.
Ecology
Most species of the archaeon are isolated from anaerobic high-rate wastewater bioreactors or solfataric fields. For example, M. tationis was isolated from a solfataric field on Mount Tatio in the Atacama desert in northern Chile.
