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The Family Methylococcaceae
The family Methylococcaceae includes the type I methanotrophs, bacterial taxa belonging to class Gammaproteobacteria able to use methane and methanol as sole carbon and energy sources but are unable to use substrates containing carbon-carbon bonds. Phylogenetically the family is polyphyletic and includes three distinct clades. Nevertheless, all three clades have characteristics typical of type I methanotrophs including intracellular membranes arranged in lamellar stacks, possession of the particulate version but not usually the soluble version of methane monooxygenase, and utilization of the ribulose monophoshate pathway to assimilate C1 carbon units. Members of the Methylococcaceae are found in any environment where methane and oxygen coexist including cold to thermal environments in both terrestrial and marine locations. Type I methanotrophs are efficient oxidizers of methane and have been applied as biofilters in industrial and remediation applications. Ecologically type I methanotrophs intercept much of the methane generated either biotically or abiotically and thus have a critical role in Earth’s carbon cycles and natural homeostatic processes.
History
Publication title
The Prokaryotes: GammaproteobacteriaEdition
4thEditors
E Rosenberg, EF DeLong, S Lory, E Stackenbrandt, F ThompsonPagination
411-440ISBN
978-3-642-38921-4Department/School
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)Publisher
SpringerPlace of publication
Berlin, GermanyExtent
37Rights statement
Copyright 2014 Springer-VerlagRepository Status
- Restricted