Methanosaeta thermophila: Difference between revisions
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''Methanosaeta thermophila'' are a diverse group of widely distributed anaerobic | |||
archaea that inhabit anaerobic environments, such as the intestinal tracts of animals, freshwater and marine sediments, sewage, anaerobic biofilms, and anaerobic sediments. These archaea are methanogens, which means they are capable of producing methane from a limited number of substrates, including carbon dioxide, hydrogen, acetate, and methylamines. ''Methanosaeta thermophila'' are nonmotile, nonsporulating, and thermophilic, which means they thrive at temperatures of 50ºC or higher. | archaea that inhabit anaerobic environments, such as the intestinal tracts of animals, freshwater | ||
and marine sediments, sewage, anaerobic biofilms, and anaerobic sediments. These archaea are | |||
methanogens, which means they are capable of producing methane from a limited number of substrates, | |||
including carbon dioxide, hydrogen, acetate, and methylamines. ''Methanosaeta thermophila'' are | |||
nonmotile, nonsporulating, and thermophilic, which means they thrive at temperatures of 50ºC or | |||
higher. | |||
This microbe was discovered by a molecular technique using fluorogenic PCR (polymerase | This microbe was discovered by a molecular technique using fluorogenic PCR (polymerase | ||
chain reaction, which amplifies DNA) to identify its methanotrophic characteristics and activity | chain reaction, which amplifies DNA) to identify its methanotrophic characteristics and activity | ||
in marine anoxic microbial communities. This was accomplished by identifying and quantifying the | in marine anoxic microbial communities. This was accomplished by identifying and quantifying the | ||
mcrA genes. Following amplification, molecular analysis was performed by clone analysis of the | mcrA genes. Following amplification, molecular analysis was performed by clone analysis of the | ||
16S rRNA and mcrA genes. The mcrA genes (encoding the methyl coenzyme M reductase, specific to | 16S rRNA and mcrA genes. The mcrA genes (encoding the methyl coenzyme M reductase, specific to | ||
methanogenic archaea), are specific to the various phylogenetic groups of methanotropic Archaea. ''Methanosaeta thermophila'' was identified among the microbial communities in deep sediments and “methane seepages of Omine Ridge in the Nankai Trough accretionary prism,” (1). | methanogenic archaea), are specific to the various phylogenetic groups of methanotropic Archaea. | ||
''Methanosaeta thermophila'' was identified among the microbial communities in deep sediments and | |||
“methane seepages of Omine Ridge in the Nankai Trough accretionary prism,” (1). | |||
The addition of Methanosaeta to the methanoarchaeal genome sequence compilation offered | The addition of Methanosaeta to the methanoarchaeal genome sequence compilation offered | ||
an opportunity to gain significant insight into this intricate microbe and the unique use of | an opportunity to gain significant insight into this intricate microbe and the unique use of | ||
comparative genomic approaches allows one to address the nature of these specific microbes and | comparative genomic approaches allows one to address the nature of these specific microbes and | ||
biological influence and capability. Because these microbes are methanogens, they serve an | their biological influence and capability. Because these microbes are methanogens, they serve an | ||
important role as the producers of natural gas and have potential as creators of biofuels (fuels | important role as the producers of natural gas and have potential as creators of biofuels (fuels | ||
derived from a biomass). | derived from a biomass). |
Revision as of 15:46, 5 June 2007
Methanosaeta thermophila
● ~Classification~
Organism Name: Methanosaeta thermophila PT Domain: Archaea Phylum: Euryarchaeota Class: Methanomicrobia Order: Methanosarcinales Family: Methanosaetaceae Genus: Methanosaeta Species: Methanothrix thermophila Genus Species Strain: Methanosaeta thermophila PT Name History: Synonyms: Methanothrix thermophila PT Methanothrix thermophila DSM 6194 Equivalent names: Methanosaeta thermophila strain PT Methanosaeta thermophila str. PT
●~Description and Significance~
Methanosaeta thermophila are a diverse group of widely distributed anaerobic archaea that inhabit anaerobic environments, such as the intestinal tracts of animals, freshwater and marine sediments, sewage, anaerobic biofilms, and anaerobic sediments. These archaea are methanogens, which means they are capable of producing methane from a limited number of substrates, including carbon dioxide, hydrogen, acetate, and methylamines. Methanosaeta thermophila are nonmotile, nonsporulating, and thermophilic, which means they thrive at temperatures of 50ºC or higher. This microbe was discovered by a molecular technique using fluorogenic PCR (polymerase chain reaction, which amplifies DNA) to identify its methanotrophic characteristics and activity in marine anoxic microbial communities. This was accomplished by identifying and quantifying the mcrA genes. Following amplification, molecular analysis was performed by clone analysis of the 16S rRNA and mcrA genes. The mcrA genes (encoding the methyl coenzyme M reductase, specific to methanogenic archaea), are specific to the various phylogenetic groups of methanotropic Archaea. Methanosaeta thermophila was identified among the microbial communities in deep sediments and “methane seepages of Omine Ridge in the Nankai Trough accretionary prism,” (1). The addition of Methanosaeta to the methanoarchaeal genome sequence compilation offered an opportunity to gain significant insight into this intricate microbe and the unique use of comparative genomic approaches allows one to address the nature of these specific microbes and their biological influence and capability. Because these microbes are methanogens, they serve an important role as the producers of natural gas and have potential as creators of biofuels (fuels derived from a biomass).