Abstract
We report the presence of coenzyme factor 430 (F430), a prosthetic group of methyl coenzyme M reductase for archaeal methanogenesis, in the deep sub-seafloor biosphere. At 106.7m depth in sediment collected off Shimokita Peninsula, northwestern Pacific, its concentration was estimated to be at least 40fmolgsediment−1 (i.e. 36pgg−1 wet sediment). This is about three orders of magnitude lower than typical concentrations of archaeal intact polar lipids in similar sub-seafloor sediments. On the basis of the concentration of F430 in methanogens and conversion to biomass composed of typical sub-seafloor microbial cells, we estimated that ca. 2×106cellsg−1 could be methanogens in the deeply buried marine sediment.
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