Phylogenetic analysis of methyl coenzyme-M reductase detected from the bovine rumen

AIMS: The object of the present study is isolation of methyl coenzyme-M reductase (MCR) genes (mcrA) from the bovine rumen fluid and determination of phylogenetical placements of the genes to investigate mechanisms of methanogenesis in the rumen from a point of view of mcrA genes. METHODS: Genes for methanogen-specific MCR were isolated from the bovine rumen by PCR amplification. The deduced amino acid sequences were fitted to the alignments of mcrA gene products from the referred sequences. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Although the deduced amino acid sequences of mcrA genes, isolated from the bovine rumen in the present study, were close to that of Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, these amino acid sequences did not fall into known clusters of MCR. The findings suggest that methanogenesis in the rumen would be partially carried out by unknown methanogens.