The ribosomal protein composition of five methanogenic bacteria

Abstract

Ribosomal subunits from five methanogenic bacteria were purified and their protein composition analyzed by gel electrophoretic methods. 30S and 50S subunits from the three Methanobacteriales species studied (Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, Methanobacterium bryantii, Methanobrevibacter arboriphilus) and also from Methanospirillum hungatei contained the typical “eubacterial” number of proteins whereas the protein composition of the Methanococcus vannielii ribosome seemed to be more complex. A tentative nomenclature was proposed for the ribosomal proteins from Methanococcus.