Methanococcus
SuperSet Prokaryote, Archaea, Methanogens Methanogens Subgroup 2 :
Compare Methanogens subgroup 1: Methanobacterium ,Methanobrevibacter, Methanosphaera ,Metthanothermus

Methanogens Subgroup 2 : Methanococcus ,Methanocorpusculum , Methanoculleus , Methanogenium Methanolacinia paynteri, Methanomicrobium mobile , Methanoplanus , Methanospirillum hungatei

Methanogens subgroup 3: Methanococcoides methylutens , Methanohalobium evstigatus , Methanohalophilus , Methanolobus , Methanosarcina , Methanothrix

Contrast Methanogens
Cell Wall-Less Archaeobacteria
Sulfate Reducing Archaeobacteria
Halophilic Archaeobacteria
Extremely Thermophilic Archaeobacteria

Eubacteria
Subset  

 

Morphology Methanococcus
CELLULAR  
Staining Cells lose integrity during Gram staining and lyse completely within 10 s when suspended in either distilled water or 0.01% sodium dodecyl sulfate.
Morphology Irregular coccus, 1.0-2.0 um in diameter during balanced growth. Cells from older cultures or colonies are extremely irregular.
Motility Motile, by means of polar tufts of flagella.
Specialized structures Storage materials include glycogen
Division  
COLONIAL  
Solid surface  
Liquid  

 

Growth Parameters Methanococcus
PHYSIOLOGICAL  
Tropism With one exception, all species grow autotrophically in mineral medium
Oxygen Obligate anaerobic
pH pH optima between 6 and 8
Temperature Either mesophilic (temperature optima: 35-40`C), thermophilic (temperature optimum: 65`C) or extremely thermophilic (temperature optimum: 85`C);
Requirements Amino acids and acetate are stimulatory for some species. Nitrogen sources include ammonium, N2 gas and alanine
Products  
Enzymes  
Unique features NaCl required for growth, optimal concentrations 0.5-4% (w/v). Obligate methanogen; H2 and, in most cases, formate serve as electron donors. Acetate, methanol and methylamines are not substrates for methanogenesis
ENVIRONMENTAL  
Habitat found in salt marsh, marine and estuarine sediments
Lifestyle  
Pathogenicity  
Distribution  

 

Genome Methanococcus
G+C Mol %  
   

 

Reference Methanococcus
First citation Kluyver,A.J. and C.B. Van Niel. 1936. Prospects for a natural system of classification of bacteria. Zentrlbl. Bacteriol. Parasitenkd. Infektionskr. Hyg. Abt II 94: 369-403
Emended Barker, H.A. 1936. Studies upon the methane- producing bacteria. arch. Mikrobiol 7:420-438
Mah, R.A. and D.A. Kuhn. 1984. Transfer of the type species of the genus Methanococcus to the genus Methanosarcina, naming it Methanosarcina mazei (Barker 1936) comb nov. et emend. and conservation of the genus Methanococcus (Approved Lists 1980) with Methanococcus vannieli (Approved Lists 1980) as the type species IJSB 34:263-265
The Prokaryotes  
Bergey's Systematatic p 2185 Wm B. Whitman
Bergey's Determinative p 721
References