[Distribution of bacteria of Methylobacterium genus in the terrestrial biotopes of the Antarctic region]

Mikrobiol Z. 2009 Nov-Dec;71(6):3-9.
[Article in Russian]

Abstract

Methylotrophs distribution has been studied in the terrestrial biotopes (moss, lichen, grass, soil, sludge of lakes) on the islands of Galindez, Barkhans, Irizar, Uruguay, Jalour, Petermann, Berthelot, Cruls, King George, Corner, Skua located in the Pacific sector of the Antarctic Region, as well as in analogous biotopes on the western shore of the Antarctic peninsula Basing on a complex of diagnosis features the isolated pink-pigmented strains, which facultatively use methanol and realize the serine cycle of assimilation of one-carbon compounds, are attributed to Methylobacterium genus. Methylobacterium strains occur more often in mosses, grass Deschampsia antarctica and lichens, than in the soil and lake sludge. Some regions ofAntarctica are comparable by the number of Methylobacterium cells with the same in the regions with moderate climate. An analysis of gene sequences 16S rRNA of the Antarctic methylobacteria with those of GenBank has shown a high extent of similarity with Methylobacterium extorquens (99.4-99.7%). Notwithstanding that the strains of Methylobacterium are resistant to the broad range of extreme factors (gamma-irradiation, UV-irradiation, dehydration), the Antarctic and collection strains of the genus were sensitive to the ions of such heavy metals as Cu, Hg, Cd, Cr (10 mg/l).

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Biological
  • Antarctic Regions
  • Bryophyta / microbiology*
  • Fresh Water / microbiology
  • Lichens / microbiology*
  • Methylobacterium / genetics
  • Methylobacterium / growth & development
  • Methylobacterium / isolation & purification*
  • Poaceae / microbiology*
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Soil Microbiology*

Substances

  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S