Isolation and characterization of a new strain of Methanothermobacter marburgensis DX01 from hot springs in China.

Strain DX01, a thermophilic methanogen, was isolated from a hot spring in China. Strain DX01 grew only on H2/CO2. The DNA G+C content is 52 mol% and optimal growth temperature is 65 degrees C. The cell pellet is brick red. By analyzing 16S rRNA sequence, methyl-coenzyme M reductase I, gamma subunit protein sequences, we determined the DX01 strain to be closely related to the species of Methanothermobacter marburgensis. In addition, Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus delta H(T) and strain DX01 had clear differences in their biochemical composition and protein expression profiles. Based on the above analysis, we propose that strain DX01 is a novel strain within thermoautotrophicus the species of M. marburgensis, namely M. marburgensis DX01. The isolation and characterization of the new M. marburgensis DX01 strain expands the known range of the Methanothermobacter genus.