| Methanogens |
| Morphology | Methanogens |
| CELLULAR |
| Staining | Gram-negative or Gram-positive |
| Morphology | A wide range of morphological types Cells are coccoid bodies, pseudosarcina or rods |
| Motility | nonmotile or motile. |
| Specialized structures |
| Division |
| COLONIAL |
| Solid surface |
| Liquid |
| Growth Parameters | Methanogens |
| PHYSIOLOGICAL |
| Tropism | |
| Oxygen | Very strictly anaerobic |
| pH | |
| Temperature | |
| Requires | The methonagens which are
also called Methanomicrobiales form a highly specialized
physiological group which does not utilize carbohydrate,
proteinaceous materials or other organic compounds as
energy sources other than those listed. They grow by
oxidation of H2 or formate with the reduction of carbon
dioxide to methane or by fermentation of methylated
amines, methanol or acetate to methane and carbon
dioxide. Some strains oxidize 1-propanol, 2-propanol,
2-butanol or ethanol to propionate, acetone, 2-butanone
or acetate(respectively) and reduce carbon dioxide to
methane. Some strains reduce elemental sulfur,but this may not lead to growth. |
| Produces | methane |
| Enzymes | |
| Unique features | Cells do not contain muramic acid. Lipids are predominantly isoprenoid hydrocarbons ether-linked to glycerol. Cells contain coenzyme M and coenzyme F420 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL |
| Habitat | They are widely distributed in nature, being found in anaerobic habitats, such as aquatic sediments, anaerobic sewage-sludge digestors and the gastrointestinal tracts of animals. |
| Lifestyle | |
| Pathogenicity |
| Distribution |
| Genome | Methanogens |
| G+C Mol % |
| Reference | Methanogens |
| The Prokaryotes | p |
| Bergey's Systematatic | p 2174 D. R. Boone and R. A. Mah |
| Bergey's Determinative | p 719-736 |
| References |