Archaea Genomes - METHANOSARCINA MAZEI
Methanosarcina mazei
is one of the only organisms that ferment acetate, methylamines and methanol to methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia.
The Archaeon Methanosarcina mazei and related species are of great ecological
importance as they are the only organisms fermenting acetate, methylamines
and methanol to methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia (in case of
methylamines).
Only Methanosarcina species possess all three known pathways for
methanogenesis and are capable of utilising a variety of methanogenic
substrates, including acetate. They releases methane into the global
carbon cycle (methane is both a potential alternative energy source
and a potent greenhouse gas).
Some of
Methanosarcina
mazei genes show strong similarity to the bacterial genes,
indicating that lateral gene transfer has played an important evolutionary
role in forging the physiology of this metabolically versatile methanogen.
References:
http://genomenewsnetwork.org/sequenced_genomes/genome_guide_p2.shtml#methsa
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