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A novel methanotroph in the genus Methylomonas that contains a distinct clade of soluble methane monooxygenase

  • Microbial Systematics and Evolutionary Microbiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Aerobic methane oxidation is a key process in the global carbon cycle that acts as a major sink of methane. In this study, we describe a novel methanotroph designated EMGL16-1 that was isolated from a freshwater lake using the floating filter culture technique. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, the isolate was found to be closely related to the genus Methylomonas in the family Methylococcaceae of the class Gammaproteobacteria with 94.2–97.4% 16S rRNA gene similarity to Methylomonas type strains. Comparison of chemotaxonomic and physiological properties further suggested that strain EMGL16-1 was taxonomically distinct from other species in the genus Methylomonas. The isolate was versatile in utilizing nitrogen sources such as molecular nitrogen, nitrate, nitrite, urea, and ammonium. The genes coding for subunit of the particulate form methane monooxygenase (pmoA), soluble methane monooxygenase (mmoX), and methanol dehydrogenase (mxaF) were detected in strain EMGL16-1. Phylogenetic analysis of mmoX indicated that mmoX of strain EMGL16-1 is distinct from those of other strains in the genus Methylomonas. This isolate probably represents a novel species in the genus. Our study provides new insights into the diversity of species in the genus Methylomonas and their environmental adaptations.

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  1. These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea

    Ngoc-Loi Nguyen, Woon-Jong Yu, Hye-Young Yang, Jong-Geol Kim & Sung-Keun Rhee

  2. Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Man-Young Jung

  3. Department of Biology, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea

    Soo-Je Park

  4. World Institute of Kimchi, Gwangju, 61755, Republic of Korea

    Seong-Woon Roh

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  1. Ngoc-Loi Nguyen
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Nguyen, NL., Yu, WJ., Yang, HY. et al. A novel methanotroph in the genus Methylomonas that contains a distinct clade of soluble methane monooxygenase. J Microbiol. 55, 775–782 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-017-7317-3

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