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Nature 440, 878-879 (13 April 2006) | doi:10.1038/440878a; Published online 12 April 2006
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Biogeochemistry: Methane and microbes
Rudolf K. Thauer1 & Seigo Shima1
Abstract
Microorganisms can carry out a wonderful range of chemical transformations. The anaerobic oxidation of methane seemed not to be among them. But it is — both with sulphate, and now it turns out, with nitrate.
Methane is not only a fossil fuel but also a key player in the carbon cycle. About 1% of the carbon dioxide annually fixed by photosynthesis is converted back to carbon dioxide by microorganisms via methane, which amounts to 1 billion tonnes of methane formed and consumed per year.
- Rudolf K. Thauer and Seigo Shima are at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse, D-35043 Marburg, Germany.
Email: thauer@mpi-marburg.mpg.de
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A microbial consortium couples anaerobic methane oxidation to denitrificationNature Letters to Editor (13 Apr 2006)
A conspicuous nickel protein in microbial mats that oxidize methane anaerobicallyNature Letters to Editor (18 Dec 2003)
