Methanothermobacter

Microbe of the Year 2021: Methanogenesis Leads to Revolutionary Discoveries

Abstract

Methanothermobacter served as a model organism for the elucidation of the pathway of ethanogenesis. It was the reason for developing the concept of Archaea as an independent phylum next to Bacteria. This concept finally resulted in the theory of the three domains of life, Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya, the latter being a sister group of Archaea. The studies with Methanothermobacter led to important discoveries: nickel as bioelement, new coenzymes, carbon monoxide as natural cell building block, a new autotrophic carbon dioxide fixation pathway, and new mechanisms of energetic coupling. Studying the microbe of the year hence has resulted in many new essential findings in only 50 years since its discovery [1, 2].