title: Rupture of the cell envelope by decompression of the deep-sea methanogen Methanococcus jannaschii.
abstract: The effect of decompression on the structure of Methanococcus jannaschii, an extremely thermophilic deep-sea methanogen, was studied in a novel high-pressure, high-temperature bioreactor. The cell envelope of M. jannaschii appeared to rupture upon rapid decompression (ca. 1 s) from 260 atm of hyperbaric pressure. When decompression from 260 atm was performed over 5 min, the proportion of ruptured cells decreased significantly. In contrast to the effect produced by decompression from hyperbaric pressure, decompression from a hydrostatic pressure of 260 atm did not induce cell lysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Chan Beum
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Douglas S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D001433:Bacteriolysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D017017:Methanococcus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012623:Seawater