中文摘要：

产甲烷古菌是一类严格厌氧的古菌,只能利用简单的化合物进行产甲烷生长。产甲烷古菌在地球生命起源和进化、全球气候变化、碳生物地球化学循环和农业废弃物资源化利用等领域,都起着至关重要的作用。系统了解产甲烷古菌的生物学特征,将有助于在这些基础和应用领域的研究工作。本文主要从生理生化特征、代谢途径、能量储存和系统分类等方面介绍产甲烷古菌的研究进展。

英文摘要：

Methanogen is a group of strictly anaerobic archaea, which can obtain energy for growth by formation of methane from simple compounds. The archaea is most likely linked to the origins and evolution of life on Earth, and plays an important role in global climate change, carbon biogeochemical cycle and resource utilization of agricultural wastes. The comprehensive understanding of biological characteristics of methanogens will promote the basic and applied research. This review summarizes recent studies of methanogens, including the physiological and chemical properties, metabolism pathway, energy conservation and systematic taxonomy.