Open AccessNitrogen fixation by Methanobacterium formicicum
Author(s) -
Magingo Francis S.S.,
Stumm Claudius K.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1991.tb04771.x
Subject(s) - methanobacterium , nitrogen fixation , nitrogen , bacteria , methane , chemistry , environmental chemistry , nitrogen cycle , biology , archaea , organic chemistry , genetics
Methanobacterium formicicum utilized molecular nitrogen as the sole nitrogen source for growth as monitored by methane production and culture turbidity measurements. The rate of methane production by the bacteria was correlated to nitrogen gas concentrations. In the absence of nitrogen gas or any other nitrogen source, the bacteria completely stopped growing. The presence of selenium and molybdenum in the culture medium was vital for the growth of the bacteria under nitrogen fixing conditions.