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U.S. Department of Energy
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Molecular biology and physiology of methanogenic archaebacteria. Annual report, July 1988-June 1989

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5566321

Methane-producing archaebacteria are worthy of their novel biology and potential in anaerobic bioprocessing. This work continues to study the biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology of the thermophilic autotroph Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum. DNA from antimetabolite-resistant mutant strains was used to transform sensitive recipient cells to resistance, and DNA was cloned into Escherichia coli plasmids. This DNA will be mutated with transposons in the E. coli host, then isolated and used to transform methanogen cells to selectable mutant phenotypes. Mutant strains resistant to purine analogs were used to determine that wild type cells of M. thermoautotrophicum possess an almost complete set of enzymes for uptake, activation, and interconversion of purine bases and nucleosides. These mutants and the information about the pathways will be the basis for generating a genetic map. Metabolic studies of a unique formate auxotroph revealed a new role for this one carbon compound in the anabolic metabolism of this methanogen.

Research Organization:
Oklahoma Univ., Norman, OK (USA). Dept. of Botany and Microbiology
OSTI ID:
5566321
Report Number(s):
AD-A-210399/2/XAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English