Methanosalsum

Abstract

Me.tha.no.sal’ sum. N.L. pref. methano pertaining to methane; L. neut. part. adj. salsum salted, salty; N.L.neut. n. Methanosalsum the salty methane-producing organism.
The genus Methanosalsum, classified within the family Methanosarcinaceae, order Methanosarcinales, consists of obligately anaerobic high salt-tolerant and alkaliphilic euryarchaea that grow by methanogenic fermentation of C1-methylated compounds. It inhabits inland, hypersaline alkaline lakes. The genus includes two species, Methanosalsum zhilinae, which is the type species of the genus, and Methanosalsum natronophilum. DNA G+C content (mol%): 38–44.8 (Tm). Type species: Methanosalsum zhilinae (Mathrani,
Boone, Mah, Fox and Lau 1988) Boone and Baker, 2002, 686VP (Effectively published: Boone and Baker 2001, 287; Basonym: Methanohalophilus zhilinae Mathrani, Boone, Mah, Fox and Lau 1988, 141).