ISSN:
1432-072X
Keywords:
Ciliate culture
;
Endosymbiosis
;
Interspecies hydrogen transfer
;
Hydrogenosome
;
Methanogenic bacteria
;
Methanoplanus endosymbiosus sp. nov.
;
Metopus contortus
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Epifluorescence microscopy revealed the presence of a methanogenic bacterium as an endosymbiont in the sapropelic marine ciliate Metopus contortus. The in situ methanogenic activity of the symbiont could be demonstrated. The isolated endosymbiont was an irregular, disc-shaped bacterium with a diameter of 1.6–3.4 μm. It had a generation time of 7 or 12 hours on growth on H2/CO2 or formate, respectively. The temperature range for growth was between 16 and 36°C with an optimum at 32°C. The optimal pH range for growth was 6.8 to 7.3. Salts, with an optimum concentration of 0.25 M, and tungsten were required for growth. The mol% G+C was 38.7%. The cell envelope consisted of proteins and a glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 110,000. Morphology, antigenic relationship and the G+C content established the isolate MC1 as a new species of the genus Methanoplanus, and the name Methanoplanus endosymbiosus is proposed.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00409886
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