A widespread group of large plasmids in methanotrophic Methanoperedens archaea

Abstract

Anaerobic methanotrophic (ANME) archaea obtain energy from the breakdown of methane. Here, Schoelmerich et al. describe large plasmids associated with ANME archaea of the Methanoperedens genus in enrichment cultures and other natural anoxic environments, opening the way for development of genetic vectors for research on these poorly understood organisms.