The ultrastructure of Methanothrix concilii, a mesophilic aceticlastic methanogen

Abstract

Methanothrix concilii strain GP6 consists of a chain of rod-shaped cells, ca. 2.5 μm in length and 0.8 μm in width, which are encased in a tubular proteinaceous sheath. The sheath is composed of annular hoops, ca. 8.0 nm wide and 9.0 nm thick, which are stacked together to form the tube. The ends of the sheath, and therefore the cell filament, are blocked by single, multilayered, 13.5 nm thick, circular plates, designated as "spacer plugs," which contain a series of concentric rings; these also separate the individual cells within each filament. Each cell is therefore bounded by a tubular section of sheath and two spacer plugs. Completely encapsulating each cell, and lying between the sheath and cell, is an amorphous granular matrix. Overlying the plasma membrane and surrounding each protoplast is a thin veil of material which resembles a cell wall, but which is unable to maintain the rod shape when cells are extruded from the sheath.