Abstract
Methanogens are a phylogenetically distinct group of strictly anaerobic Archaea, characterized by the ability to produce methane as their major metabolic product. They are the only known organisms that produce a hydrocarbon as their catabolic end product. Methanogens thrive in habitats devoid of oxygen, where they play an important role in the degradation of organic matter. These organisms are further characterized by additional similarities: 1) their catabolic substrate range is limited to simple molecules, generally not exceeding two carbons in size, 2) their membranes contain novel lipids not found in most other microorganisms, 3) they lack peptidoglycan containing muramic acid, and 4) they all utilize a very similar catabolic mechanism.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Andersen, B. L., Bidoglio, G., Leip, A., and Rembges, D. (1998) Global Biogeochem Cycles 12, 587–594.
Boone, D. R., and Mah, R. A. (1987) Appl Environ Microbiol 54, 1699–1700.
Cicerone, R. J., and Oremland, R. S. (1988) Global Biogeochem Cycles 2, 299–327.
Cord-Ruwisch, R., Scitz, H.-J., and Conrad, R. (1988) Arch Microbiol 149, 350–357.
De Rosa, M., Gambacorta, A., and Gliozzi, A. (1986) Microbiol Rev 50, 70–80.
Ferry, J. G. (1993) Methanogenesis: ecology, physiology, biochemistry & genetics. New York: Chapman & Hall.
Franzmann, P. D., Liu, Y., Balkwill, D. L., Aldrich, H. C., Conway de Macario, E., and Boone, D. R. (1997) Int J Syst Bacteriol 47, 1068–1072.
Hinrichs, K.-U., Hayes, J. M., Silva, S. P., Brewer, P. G., and DeLong, E. F. (1999) Nature 398, 802–805.
Hoehler, T. M., Alperin, M. J., Albert, D. B., and Martens, C. S. (1994) Global Biogeochem Cycles 8, 451–463.
Hoehler, T. M., Alperin, M. J., Albert, D. B., and Martens, C. S. (1998) Geochim Cosmochim Acta 62, 1745–1756.
Holt, J. G., Krieg, N. R., Sneath, P. H. A., Staley, J. T., and Williams, S. T. (1994) Bergey’s manual of determinative bacteriology. Baltimore: illiams Wilkins.
Hungate, R. E. (1966) The rumen and its microbes: Academic Press New York
Jones, W. J., Nagle, D. P., Jr., and Whitman, W. B. (1987) Microbiol Rev 51, 135–177.
Kiene, R. P. (1991) in: J. E. Rogers and W. B. Whitman (eds.) Microbial Production and Consumption of Greenhouse Gases: Methane, Nitrogen Oxides, and Halomethanes., Washington, DC: Amer. Soc. Microbiol., pp. viii, 298
Kurr, M., Huber, R., König, H., Jannasch, H. W., Fricke, H., Trincone, A., Kristjansson, J. K., and Stetter. K. O. (1991) Arch Microbiol. 156, 239–247.
Leadbetter, J. R., and Breznak, J. A. (1996) Appl Environ Microbiol 62, 3620–3631.
Pak, K. R., and Bartha, R. (1998) Appl Environ Microbiol 64, 1987–1990.
Peters, V., and Conrad, R. (1995) Appl Environ Microbiol 61, 1673–1676.
Schink, B. (1997) Microbiol Mol. Biol. Rev. 61, 262–280.
Sprott, G. D., Ekiel, I., and Patel, G. B. (1993) Appl Environ Microbiol 59, 1092–1098.
Stetter, K. O., and Gaag, G. (1983) Nature 305, 309–311.
Stevens, T. O., and McKinley, J. P. (1995) Science 270, 450–454.
van de Vossenberg, J., Driessen, A. J. M., and Konings, W. N. (1998) Extremophiles 2, 163–170.
Vargas, M., Kashefi, K., BluntHarris, E. L., and Lovley, D. R. (1998) Nature 395, 65–67.
Williams, R. T., and Crawford, R. L. (1984) Appl Environ Microbiol 47, 1266–1271.
Woese, C. (1987) Microbiol Rev 51, 22–271.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Valentine, D.L., Boone, D.R. (2000). Diversity of Methanogens. In: Seckbach, J. (eds) Journey to Diverse Microbial Worlds. Cellular Origin and Life in Extreme Habitats, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4269-4_20
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4269-4_20
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5850-6
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-4269-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive