Methanobacterium formicicum

Under conditions of oxygen limitation in continuous culture, mixed populations of aerobic bacteria and the strictly anaerobic Methanobacterium formicicum and Methanosarcina barkeri could be maintained (Gerritse and Gottschal 1993a). 

Baron, S. F. and Ferry, J. G. (1989) Purification and properties of the membrane-associated coenzyme F420-reducing hydrogenase from Methanobacterium-Formicicum. J. Bacterial., 171, 3846-53. 

Another pattern of reductive activation has been observed in the Ni hydrogenase of Methanobacterium formicicum (79). In this enzyme, reductive activation is irreversible, requires a strong reductant, and is inhibited by the chelating agent 2,2 -bipyridyl. The conversion of a [3Fe-xS] cluster to a [4Fe-4S] has been suggested. 

Barber, M. J., May, H. D., and Ferry, J. G., 1986, Inactivation of formate dehydrogenase from Methanobacterium formicicum hy cyamie. Biochemistry 25 8150n8155. 

In the presence of o-sorbitol, Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum forms protoplasts after addition of lysozyme to growing cells [31]. Growing cells of Methanobacterium thermoalcaliphilum were also found to lyse in the absence of substrate [32]. The mechanism responsible for the lysis has not been elucidated in any of these cases. An extracellular enzyme, produced by a streptomycete, was found to lyse Methanobacterium formicicum [33]. 

Bacterial infections elicit a series of acute-phase responses which include central nervous system effects such as changes in body temperature and increased slow-wave sleep. Dead bacteria [54] and murein preparations [55] as well as other bacterial cell-wall products induce similar responses. Intravenous injections of rabbits with suspensions of pseudomurein from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum also alter sleep and brain temperature. The mechanisms responsible for these somnogenic and pyrogenic effects are unknown [56]. It has been demonstrated that in a rat arthritis model, intra-articular injection of high doses of pseudomurein-polysaccharide fragments from Methanobacterium formicicum caused an acute inflammation [57]. 

Abbreviations used SS, Sulfolobus solfataricus TA, Thermoplasma acidophilum DM, Desidfuro-coccus mobilis TC, Thermococcus celer TT, Thermoproleus tenax MV, Methanococcus vannielii MF, Methanobacterium formicicum HF, Haloferax mediterranei. 

To date only five species of methane bacteria have been obtained in pure culture. M. vanniellii (5), Methanohacterium ruminantium (7), Methanobacterium mobilis (28), and Methanobacterium formicicum (21) grow on formate and ferment H2. The last species also ferments CO. The methanogenic symbiont of M. omelianskii, probably a variety of M. formicicum (29) grows only on H2 (16). Methanosarcina barkeri is iso-... 

Several species have been isolated, studied in pure culture, and taxonomi-cally identified and classified. Some of the notable species are Methanobacterium formicicum, M. bryantii, M. thermoautotrophicum Methanobrevibacter ruminant-ium, M. arboriphilus, M. smithii Methanococcus vannielii, M. voltae Methanomicrobium mobile Methanogenium cariaci, M. marisnigri Methanospirillum hunga-... 

Methanobacterium formicicum formate dehydrogenases, 663 Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum hydrogenases nickel, 647... 

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