Abstract
Fluorescent bacteria were demonstrated to be abundantly spread as single cells throughout the cytoplasm of the giant amoeba Pelomyxa palustris, the sapropelic ciliate Metopus striatus and six other anaerobic protozoa examined. The endosymbionts of P. palustris and M. striatus were identified as methanogenic bacteria on the basis of the presence of the deazaflavin coenzyme F420 and the pterin compound F342. Moreover individuals of P. palustris produced methane over a long period of incubation. The number of methanogenic bacteria was above 1010 cells/ml protozoal cytoplasm. Two types of methanogenic bacteria together with unidentified thick bacteria were found in P. palustris. The physiological background of this endosymbiosis and its functioning in degradation processes in the anoxic environment are discussed.
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