Production of methane and hydrogen by anaerobic ciliates containing symbiotic methanogens

Rates of methane production by three anaerobic ciliates containing symbiotic methanogens (the marine Metopus contortus and Plagiopyla frontata, and the limnic Metopus palaeformis) were quantified. Hydrogen production by normal (containing active symbionts), aposymbiotic and BES-treated cells was als...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of microbiology 1992-05, Vol.157 (6), p.475-480
Main Authors: FENCHEL, T, FINLAY, B. J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biology of microorganisms of confirmed or potential industrial interest
Biotechnology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Metopus
Mission oriented research
Physiology and metabolism
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Summary:Rates of methane production by three anaerobic ciliates containing symbiotic methanogens (the marine Metopus contortus and Plagiopyla frontata, and the limnic Metopus palaeformis) were quantified. Hydrogen production by normal (containing active symbionts), aposymbiotic and BES-treated cells was also measured in the case of the marine species. Methanogenesis was closely coupled to host metabolism and growth; at maximum ciliate growth rates (20 degree C) each methanogen produced about 1 fmol CH sub(4) per hour corresponding to about 7, 4 and 0.35 pmol per ciliate per hour for M. contortus, P. frontata and M. palaeformis, respectively. Normal cells produced traces of H sub(2). Hydrogen production by BES-treated or aposymbiotic cells accounted for 75 and 45% of the methane production of normal M. contortus and P. frontata cells, respectively.
ISSN:0302-8933
1432-072X
DOI:10.1007/bf00276765