Methanosarcina barkeri CM1 and its environmental impacts

Introduction

Methanosarcina barkeri CM1 is a species of methanogenic archaea of the CM1 strain, and like many other methanogens, is characterized by its production of methane as it generates energy. The Methanosarcina barkeri species has a coccoid shape and is nonmotile (Figure 1). The archaea was found within the rumen of a Friesian cow on a diet of clover and ryegrass in New Zealand and since then its genome has led to discoveries in rumen methanogen diversity as well as environmental problems with the production of methane. (2)

Figure 1: Micrograph of Methanosarcina barkeri CM1 cells. This image was produced using Olympus Fluoview 10-ASW software. (In courtesy of Standards of Genomic Sciences).

Ruminant animals, such as this cow, through evolution have developed a digestive system that utilizes microbes to ferment plant fiber (2), as well as to produce digestible nutrients necessary for the ruminant host animal. (3) The fermentation of fibers, sugars, and starches produces carbon dioxides, methane, and volatile fatty acids. (3) Hydrogenotrophs (produce methane from hydrogen and carbon dioxide), methylotrophs (produce methane from methyl in methanol), acetoclastic methanogens (produce methane from acetate) are the three classifications into which methanogens in ruminants are grouped. (2)