The ability to produce methane is far more widespread than scientists once believed.

Gardening · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For decades, methane production was thought to be the exclusive domain of the Euryarchaeota. Recent discoveries have shattered this assumption, revealing that diverse archaeal phyla, including the Thermoproteota, possess the metabolic machinery required to generate methane. This shift fundamentally changes our understanding of the global methane cycle and microbial evolution.

The traditional view of biological methanogenesis centered on the Euryarchaeota, a phylum long considered the sole group capable of conserving energy through methane production. However, recent research has demonstrated that this metabolic capability is far more widespread across the domain Archaea than previously assumed. Scientists have identified methane-related pathways in various uncultured and newly described archaeal groups, including the Bathyarchaeota, Verstraetearchaeota, and the Thermoproteota. These findings suggest that the evolutionary history of methane metabolism is significantly more complex and interconnected than early models proposed.

Central to these discoveries is the role of methyl-coenzyme M reductase, an enzyme containing nickel F-430 that is essential for anaerobic methane formation. Researchers have identified novel variants of the gene encoding this enzyme in diverse environments, ranging from geothermal hot springs to hydrocarbon-impacted habitats. By utilizing genome-centric metagenomics and long-term cultivation techniques, scientists are now able to isolate and characterize these nontraditional methanogens. For instance, recent studies have successfully cultivated methyl-reducing methanogens from outside the Euryarchaeota, providing concrete evidence that these organisms contribute to biological methanogenesis in geothermal systems.

This expanding knowledge of archaeal metabolism is crucial for refining global methane budgets. As researchers continue to explore the ecological roles of these organisms, it becomes clear that the microbial processes involved in the methane cycle are highly diverse. The identification of these pathways not only challenges established taxonomic boundaries but also highlights the adaptability of archaea in extreme environments. By integrating meta-omics with advanced cultivation approaches, the scientific community is gaining a more accurate picture of how these microorganisms influence carbon cycling on a global scale, moving beyond the limitations of previous, more restrictive models of archaeal physiology.

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