Complete genome sequence of Methanospirillum hungatei type strain JF1

Abstract

Methanospirillum hungatei strain JF1 (DSM 864) is a methane-producing archaeon and is the type species of the genus Methanospirillum, which belongs to the family Methanospirillaceae within the order Methanomicrobiales. Its genome was selected for sequencing due to its ability to utilize hydrogen and carbon dioxide and/or formate as a sole source of energy. Ecologically, M. hungatei functions as the hydrogen- and/or formate-using partner with many species of syntrophic bacteria. Its morphology is distinct from other methanogens with the ability to form long chains of cells (up to 100 μm in length), which are enclosed within a sheath-like structure, and terminal cells with polar flagella. The genome of M. hungatei strain JF1 is the first completely sequenced genome of the family Methanospirillaceae, and it has a circular genome of 3,544,738 bp containing 3,239 protein coding and 68 RNA genes. The large genome of M. hungatei JF1 suggests the presence of unrecognized biochemical/physiological properties that likely extend to the other Methanospirillaceae and include the ability to form the unusual sheath-like structure and to successfully interact with syntrophic bacteria.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40793-015-0124-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

CryoEM structure of the Methanospirillum hungatei archaellum reveals structural features distinct from the bacterial flagellum and type IV pilus

“…The first six amino-acid residues, MRKETA, predicted from all three flaB candidate genes from the M. hungatei genome 23 , are not present in the cryoEM structure. All archaellins studied to date have type III signal peptides that must be cleaved to form the mature protein 24–27 .…”

Membrane Complexes of Syntrophomonas wolfei Involved in Syntrophic Butyrate Degradation and Hydrogen Formation

“…The Syntrophomonas wolfei and Methanospirillum hungatei co-culture serves as a model system to study syntrophic fatty acid oxidation (McInerney et al, 1979, 1981; Müller et al, 2009; Sieber et al, 2010, 2015; Schmidt et al, 2013; Gunsalus et al, 2016). In co-culture with M. hungatei, S. wolfei syntrophically metabolizes short chain fatty acids of four to eight carbon atoms to acetate, using the beta-oxidation pathway (McInerney et al, 1979, 1981; Müller et al, 2009; Sieber et al, 2010, 2015; Schmidt et al, 2013).…”

Simultaneous removal of sulfur and nitrogen compounds with methane production from concentrated latex wastewater in two bioreactor zones of micro‐oxygen hybrid reactor

“…The remaining band was closely affiliated with the genus Methanospirillium (KJ906532.1, 90%) which is found in a wide range of habitats (e.g. sulfate‐rich waste streams, anaerobic sediments) . For the MSL community, Methanosaeta spp.…”

“…sulfate-rich waste streams, anaerobic sediments). 54,56,57 For the MSL community, Methanosaeta spp. were the major methanogens assigned to both dominant DGGE bands, as demonstrated in Fig.…”