Abstract
A methanogen utilizing methanol was isolated from a reactor anaerobically degrading leaves of Leucaena leucocephala. The cells are rods of length 2.2 μm with diameter 0.46 μm also occurring in short chains. The cells stain gram-positive and the G+C content is 52.8 mol%. Growth occurred optimally with methanol (0.1 M) at 37°C and pH 7.4 with a doubling time of 7.5 h. The preferred sulfur source was glutathione. In addition to methanol, the isolate utilized 2-propanol as carbon and hydrogen source and also grew effectively on H2+CO2. Electron microscopy revealed the cell enveloped in triple layers consisting of a cell membrane and a cell wall separated by an electron transparent space with the nuclear zone at the centre of the cytoplasm. Presence of cytochromes was evident in the membrane fractions. The isolate possesses novel features.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Biavati B, Vasta M, Ferry JG (1988) Isolation and characterization of “Methanosphaera cuniculi” sp. nov. Appl Environ Microbiol 54:768–771
Hungate RE (1969) A roll tube method for cultivation of strict anaerobes. In: Norris R, Ribbons DW (eds) Methods in microbiology, vol. 3B. Academic Press, New York, pp 117–132
Jones WJ, Nagle DP Jr, Whitman WB (1987) Methanogens and the diversity of archaebacteria. Microbiol Rev 51:135–177
Jussofie A, Gottschalk G (1986) Further studies on the distribution of cytochromes in methanogenic bacteria. FEMS Microbiol Lett 37:15–18
König H, Stetter KO (1982) Isolation and characterization of Methanolobus tindarius, sp. nov., a coccoid methanogen growing only on methanol and methylamines. Zentralbl Bakteriol Parasitenkde Infektionskrankh Hyg [C] 3:478–490
Kühn W, Gottschalk G (1983) Characterization of the cytochromes occuring in Methanosarcina species. Eur J Biochem 135:89–94
Kühn W, Fiebig K, Mah RA, Huser BA, Gottschalk G (1983) Distribution of cytochromes in methanogenic bacteria. FEMS Microbiol Lett 20:407–410
Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275
Mandel M, Marmur J (1968) Use of ultraviolet absorbance temperature profile for determining the guanine plus cytosine content of DNA. Methods Enzymol 12:195–206
Marmur J (1961) A procedure for the isolation of deoxyribonucleic acid from the microorganisms. J Mol Biol 3:208–218
Mathrani IM, Boone DR, Mah RA, Fox GE, Lan PP (1988) Methanohalophilus zhilinae sp.nov., an alkaliphilic, halophilic methylotrophic methanogen. Int J Syst Bacteriol 38:139–142
Miller MJ, Gennis RB (1983) The purification and characterization of the cytochrome d terminal oxidase complex of the E. coli aerobic respiratory chain. J Biol Chem 258:9159–9165
Miller TL, Wolin MJ (1985) Methanosphaera stadtmanae gen. nov., sp. nov.: a species that forms methane by reducing methanol with hydrogen. Arch Microbiol 141:116–122
Narayanaswami V, Sankar K, Chandrasekaran PM, Lalitha K (1986) Biomethanation of Leucaena leucocephala: a potential biomass substrate. Fuel 65:1129–1133
Patel GB, Baudet C, Agnew BJ (1988) Nutritional requirements for the growth of Methanothrix concilii. Can J Microbiol 34:73–77
Patel GB, Sprott GD, Fein JE (1990) Isolation and characterization of Methanobacterium espanolae sp.nov., a mesophilic moderately acidiphilic methanogen. Int J Syst Bacteriol 40:12–18
Sowers KR, Ferry JG (1983) Isolation and characterization of a methylotrophic marine methanogen, Methanococcoides methylutens gen. nov., sp. nov. Appl Environ Microbiol 45:684–690
Widdel F (1986) Growth of methanogenic bacteria in pure culture with 2-propanol and other alcohols as hydrogen donor. Appl Environ Microbiol 51:1056–1062
Widdel F, Rouvière P, Wolfe RS (1988) Classification of secondary alcohol utilizing methanogens including a new thermophilic isolate. Arch Microbiol 150:477–481
Zellner G, Winter J (1987) Secondary alcohols as hydrogen donors for carbon dioxide reduction by methanogens. FEMS Microbiol Lett 44:323–328
Zellner G, Alten C, Stackebrandt E, Conway de Macario E, Winter J (1987) Isolation and characterization of Methanocorpusculum parvum gen. nov., sp. nov., a new tungsten requiring coccoid methanogen. Arch Microbiol 147:13–20
Zellner G, Mersner P, Kneifel H, Tindall BJ, Winter J, Stackebrandt E (1989) Methanolacinia gen. nov., incorporating Methanomicrobium paynteri as Methanolacinia paynteri comb. nov. J Gen Appl Microbiol 35:185–202
Zellner G, Sleytr UB, Mersner P, Kneifel H, Winter J (1990) Methanogenium liminatans sp. nov., a new coccoid mesophilic methanogen able to oxidize secondary alcohols. Arch Microbiol 153:287–293
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lalitha, K., Krishnan, S. Isolation of a novel rod shaped methanogen growing on methanol and 2-propanol. Arch. Microbiol. 155, 402–408 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00243462
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00243462