Isolation and Characterization of a Methylotrophic Marine Methanogen, Methanococcoides methylutens gen. nov., sp. nov.

A new genus of marine methanogenic bacteria is described that utilizes trimethylamine, diethylamine, monomethylamine, and methanol as substrates for growth and methanogenesis. Methane was not produced from H(2)-CO(2), sodium formate, or sodium acetate. Growth on trimethylamine was stimulated by yeast extract, Trypticase (BBL Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, Md.), rumen fluid, or B vitamins. The optimal growth temperature was 30 to 35 degrees C. The maximum growth rate was between pH 7.0 and 7.5. Na (0.4 M) and MgSO(4) (0.05 M) were required for maximum growth. Colonies of the type strain, TMA-10, were yellow, circular, and convex with entire edges. Cells were nonmotile, nonsporeforming, irregular cocci 1 mum in diameter which stained gram negative and occurred singly or in pairs. Micrographs of thin sections revealed a monolayered cell wall approximately 10-nm thick which consisted of protein. Cells were lysed in 0.01% sodium dodecyl sulfate or 0.001% Triton X-100. The DNA base composition was 42 mol% guanine plus cytosine. Methanococcoides is the proposed genus and Methanococcoides methylutens is the type species. TMA-10 is the type strain (ATCC 33938).