Methane eating microbes.

What is it about?

Anaerobic marine environments are the third largest producer of the greenhouse gas methane. The release to the atmosphere is prevented by anaerobic ‘methanotrophic archaea (ANME) dependent on a symbiotic association with sulfate-reducing bacteria or direct reduction of metal oxides. Metagenomic analyses of ANME are consistent with a reverse methanogenesis pathway, although no wild-type isolates have been available for validation and biochemical investigation. Herein is reported the characterization of methanotrophic growth for the diverse marine methanogens.

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Why is it important?

That wild-type methanogens are capable of methanotrophic growth contributes to understanding their role in methane cycling that impacts global warming. The remarkable reversibility of catabolic reactions in one organism foreshadows undiscovered metabolic potentials of diverse organisms.