Ecology of Methane Oxidizing Microbes

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Methane oxidation by microbes is an important part of the global carbon cycle. However, the microbes (methanotrophs) that oxidize methane in ecosystems have not been identified. Carbon metabolism in freshwater samples using assays of enzymes that are unique to different groups of methylotrophs will be studied in order to partially characterize the dominant microflora. Characterization of methanol dehydrogenases in samples will be utilized to further characterize the methylotrophs present. Microbes that oxidize methane and ammonia will be identified by characterizing genes encoding methane monooxygenase and methanol dehyrogenase and the approximate biomass of each organism will be measured using DNA-DNA and DNA-RNA hybridization reactions as well as by assays for spceific enzymes. The quantification and indentification of these bacteria will provide information on their contribution to the global greenhouse effect.