Methylocystis hirsuta sp. nov., a novel methanotroph isolated from a groundwater aquifer

Abstract

Strain CSC1T , a Gram-negative, aerobic, methane-oxidizing bacterium, was isolated from an uncontaminated aquifer nearly 20 years ago. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, this strain was identified as a member of the Alphaproteobacteria, most closely related to an uncultured member of the Methylocystaceae as well as two cultured organisms, Species of the genus Methylocystis are strictly aerobic, Gram-negative bacteria that are able to grow on onecarbon compounds (e.g. methane or methanol) (Bowman et al., 1993). The genus Methylocystis belongs to the class Alphaproteobacteria and currently consists of three species with standing in nomenclature, Methylocystis parvus, Methylocystis echinoides and Methylocystis rosea (Whittenbury et al., 1970;Gal'chenko et al., 1977;Bowman et al., 1993; Wartainen et al., 2006). Numerous Methylocystis strains have been identified in a variety of environments, including lake, ocean, marsh and creek sediments and water, coal mine drainage water and the roots of plants (Whittenbury et al., 1970;Gal'chenko et al., 1977;Bowman et al., 1993;Hanson & Hanson, 1996;Calhoun & King, 1998;Heyer et al., 2002 (Stanley et al., 1983;Prior & Dalton, 1985;Choi et al., 2003;Wartiainen et al., 2006). Methylocystis parvus OBBP T and Methylocystis rosea SV97 T do not possess genes encoding sMMO (Tsien & Hanson, 1992;Lloyd et al., 1999;Wartiainen et al., 2006). The genera Methylocella and Methylocapsa are classified as type II methanotrophs; however, they possess morphological and Abbreviations: PHB, poly-b-hydroxybutyrate; pMMO, particulate methane mononoxygenase; sMMO, soluble methane monooxygenase; TEM, transmission electron microscopy. The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession numbers for the 16S rRNA gene sequence and partial mxaF, mmoX and pmoA gene sequences of strain CSC1T are respectively DQ364433, DQ664499, DQ664498 and DQ364434.Neighbour-joining trees based on partial mmoX and mxaF gene sequences and results of electron microscope cytochemistry of the S-layer of strain CSC1T are available as supplementary material with the online version of this paper.

Different types of methane monooxygenases produce similar carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation patterns during methane oxidation

“…Fractionation experiments were conducted using a variety of taxonomically distinct, well-characterized methanotrophic reference organisms (Whittenbury et al, 1970;Romanovskaya et al, 1978;Bowman et al, 1993;Bodrossy et al, 1997;Anonymous, 1998;Dunfield et al, 2003;Dedysh et al, 2004;Wartiainen et al, 2006;Lindner et al, 2007). M. capsulatus and M. sporium were cultivated in the presence of different amounts of copper to induce the expression of pMMO or sMMO, respectively.…”

Microbial carbon cycling in oligotrophic regional aquifers near the Tono Uranium Mine, Japan as inferred from δ13C and Δ14C values of in situ phospholipid fatty acids and carbon sources

“…nov. (Accession No. DQ364434) isolated from an uncontaminated aquifer in California (Lindner et al, 2007). The next closest match was Methylocystis rosea sp.…”

“…A cream color was reported for Methylocystis hirsuta sp. nov. but its PLFAs were not analyzed (Lindner et al, 2007).…”

Changes in the bacterioplankton community of oligotrophic Lake Stechlin (northeastern Germany) after humic matter addition

“…Phylogenetic groupings are highlighted with gray boxes al. , Xiao et al 2005, Lindner et al 2007). Their growth may have benefited from changes in pH and the presence of other bacteria and/or their metabolic products in the cultures.…”