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Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus, a novel thermophilic lithotrophic methanogen

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Abstract

An autotrophic thermophilic motile coccoid methanogen was isolated from geothermally heated sea sediments close to Naples, Italy. Growth occurs on H2/CO2 and on formate between 30 and 70°C with an optimum at 65°C. The optimal doubling time is only 55 min. The NaCl-concentration ranges from 1.3% to 8.3% with an optimum around 4%. By its G+C-content of 31.3 mol%, its subunit envelope, and by DNA-RNA hybridization the new isolate is clearly defined to be a member of the genusMethanococcus. We name itMethanococcus thermolithotrophicus.

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Abbreviations

G+C:

Guanine + Cytosine

SDS:

Sodium dodecylsulfate (Sodium lauryl sulfate)

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Huber, H., Thomm, M., König, H. et al. Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus, a novel thermophilic lithotrophic methanogen. Arch. Microbiol. 132, 47–50 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00690816

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00690816

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