| Methanothrix |
| Morphology | Methanothrix |
| CELLULAR |
| Staining | Gram-negative |
| Morphology | Cells are rod-shaped with flat ends (Fig. 25.18A), usually 0.7- 1.2 x 2.0-6.0 um. Forms very long and flexible filaments which tend to aggregate in characteristic bundles |
| Motility | Nonmotile. |
| Specialized structures | Resting stages are now known. One species produces gas vacuoles. |
| Division |
| COLONIAL |
| Solid surface |
| Liquid |
| Growth Parameters | Methanothrix |
| PHYSIOLOGICAL |
| Tropism | |
| Oxygen | Strictly anaerobic |
| pH | Optimum pH: 7.1-7.8; maximum, 8.3; minimum, 6.8 |
| Temperature | Optimum temperature: 35-40`C; maximum, about 50`C; minimum, 3`C, for the mesophilic strains; 35-75`C with an optimum at 65'C for the thermophilic strain 35-75`C with an optimum at 65'C for the thermophilic strain |
| Requirements | Uses acetate exclusively as energy source, which is split into methane and CO2. Acetate and CO2 act as sole carbon sources. |
| Products | |
| Enzymes | |
| Unique features | ... |
| ENVIRONMENTAL |
| Habitat | |
| Lifestyle | |
| Pathogenicity |
| Distribution |
| Genome | Methanothrix |
| G+C Mol % | 52-61 (Tm, UV) |
| Reference | Methanothrix |
| First citation | Huser, B.A. K. Wuhrmann and A.J.B.Zehnder. 1982. Methanothrix soehngenii gen. nov. sp. nov., a new acetotrophic nonhydrogen-Oxiizing methane bacterium. Arch. Microbiol 132:1-9 |
| The Prokaryotes | |
| Bergey's Systematatic | p 2207A. J.B. Zehnder |
| Bergey's Determinative | p 724 |
| References |