Methyl coenzyme M reductase (mcrA) gene abundance correlates with activity measurements of methanogenic H₂ /CO₂ -enriched anaerobic biomass.

ABSTRACT: Biologically produced methane (CH₄) from anaerobic digesters is a renewable alternative to fossil fuels, but digester failure can be a serious problem. Monitoring the microbial community within the digester could provide valuable information about process stability because this technology is dependent upon the metabolic processes of microorganisms. A healthy methanogenic community is critical for digester function and CH₄ production. Methanogens can be surveyed and monitored using genes and transcripts of mcrA, which encodes the α subunit of methyl coenzyme M reductase - the enzyme that catalyses the final step in methanogenesis. Using clone libraries and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we compared the diversity and abundance of mcrA genes and transcripts in four different methanog

SUBMITTER: Morris R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3896932 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature