Methanogens: reevaluation of a unique biological group.

INTRODUCTION ........ ...... ........ 261 GROWTH OF METHANOGENS 262 Techniques for Growth of Methanogens ..... 262 Principal Media......6..3.. . .... ....... .. . 263 Strain Histories.................2..6..4............. 264 Deoxyribonucleic Acid Base Composition Determination (Moles Percent Guanine plusCytosine). 264 GENERATION OF 16S RIBOSOMAL RIBONUCLEIC ACID OLIGONUCLEOTIDE CATALOGS ..............................2................... 264 Labeling and Ribosomal Ribonucleic Acid Isolation ..... .. . 264 Determination of Oligonucleotide Catalog .26........6.. 26 Analysis ofData ............2......6.. .. . . .... . ..6. ... ... 26 COMPARATIVE CATALOGING OF 17 METHANOGENS 266 DEVELOPMENT AND OUTLINE OF A NEW TAXONOMIC TREATMENT BASED ON 16S RIBOSOMAL RIBONUCLEIC ACID ................ 267 Orders ................................................... 268 Families .2......6.8......................6....... 268 Genera.......... 269 Species ...2.6.......9......... 269 EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF THE NEW TAXONOMIC TREATMENT ........ 276 Cell Wall Structure and Composition .. .......... ........ 276 Order I, Methanobacteriales.276 Order II, Methanococcales 8 Order m, Methanomicrobiales.27 LFimpid Composition.279 Deoxyribonucleic Acid Base Composition (Moles Percent Guanine plus Cytosine) ................................................................ 280 Substrates for Growth and Methane Production 280 Metabolic Pathways ................. .. 281 Coenzyme M (2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid) .. .. ....... .... 281 Coenzyme F420 .......................................... 282 Intermediary metabolism .... .... ...... .... .... 282 Ribosomal and Transfer Ribonucleic Acids of Typical Bacteria and Methanogens .............. 282 Genome Sizes of Typical Bacteria and Methanobacterium thermoautotrophi-