Study of the genetics and regulation of methane oxidation. Progress report, second year and a half, August 1, 1981-January 31, 1983
The purpose is to develop mutagenesis, gene transfer and cloning systems in methanotrophic bacteria, and use these techniques to study the methane oxidation genes. Although we have been successful in the first part of these objectives, the study of methane oxidation genes has proven difficult. Problems arose due to the discovery that the culture, Methylobacterium ethanolicum, is in reality a stable coculture between two methylotrophs. These partners are Methylocystis POC, an obligate methanotroph and Xanthobacter H4.14, and autotrophic methanolutilizer. The Methylocystis strain contains the three plasmids we had observed previously in methane-grown cultures, while the Xanthobacter strain contains no detectible plasmids. Therefore, our original approach to studying the methane oxidation genes, that of isolating plasmid mutants, is no longer valid. However, our discovery of the nature of this culture has led to some interesting results which show promise in elucidating the genetic structure of the methane oxidation genes in obligate methanotrophs. In addition, we have been successful in developing mutagenesis, gene transfer and cloning systems that are applicable to a wide variety of methanotrophs.
- Research Organization:
- Washington Univ., Seattle (USA). Dept. of Microbiology
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT06-80ER10680
- OSTI ID:
- 6342356
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/10680-2; ON: DE83011463
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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