Faculty
William B. Whitman, Ph.D.
Professor and Head of Microbiology
Ph.D. (1978) University of Texas
Address: Department of Microbiology
541 Biological Sciences
Athens, GA 30602-2605
Phone: (706)
542-4219
E-mail: whitman@uga.edu
Web site: http://www.arches.uga.edu/~whitman
COS CV: http://myprofile.cos.com/wbwhitman
PubMed: whitman wb
Research Interests:
The methanogenic bacteria are strictly anaerobic
autotrophs which obtain energy from the synthesis of methane
gas. They catalyze the terminal step in the anaerobic decomposition
of organic matter, and about 1.6 % of the CO2 fixed worldwide
is released to the atmosphere by the activity of these bacteria.
Atmospheric methane, a greenhouse gas whose concentration is
rapidly increasing, is derived largely from these bacteria. As
autotrophs they are also unusual because they are commonly found
closely associated with heterotrophic eubacteria and protozoans.
Methanogens are archaea, and they are distantly related to both
eukaryotes and the more common eubacteria. Among the archaea,
the methanogens are unique. They are the only archaea common
in temperate environments of moderate temperature, neutral pH,
low salinity. Therefore, the properties of the methanogens can
be easily compared with eubacteria from identical habitats. This
feature is important, because it is reasonable to believe that
properties of the methanogens which are shared by the eubacteria
may have been inherited by a common ancestor to all modern organisms.
Thus, comparative physiology may allow us to deduce the properties
of the common ancestor.
Presently, we are developing a genetic system for methanococci.
Like many of the major bacterial groups, virtually nothing is
known about genetic transfer in the methanogens. Our recent work
has developed efficient transformation systems and a shuttle
vector for the methanococci. Secondly, we are studying the carbon
metabolism of the methanococci. We want to determine if the major
biosynthetic pathways are similar to the eubacterial pathways.
These studies will give us insights into the early evolution
of life on earth.
