TABLE 1.

Oligonucleotide sequences of PCR primers used in this study

Target gene for PCR amplification	Primer	Oligonucleotide sequencea	Reference
16S rRNA gene for archaea	Arc349f	5′-GYGCASCAGKCGMGAAW-3′	33
	Arc806r	5′-GGACTACVSGGGTATCTAAT-3′	33
16S rRNA gene for bacteria	Bac349f	5′-AGGCAGCAGTDRGGAAT-3′	33
	Uni806R	5′-GGACTACYVGGGTATCTAAT-3′	33
Methyl coenzyme M reductase (mcrA)	ME1f	5′-CGMATGCARATHGGWATGTC-3′	6
	ME2r	5′-TCATKGCRTAGTTDGGRTAGT-3′	6
	AOM39f	5′-GCTGTGTAGCAGGAGAGTCA-3′	7
	AOM40r	5′-GATTATCAGGTCACGCTCAC-3′	7
Particulate methane monooxygenase (pmoA)	A189f	5′-GGNGACTGGGACTTCTGG-3′	10
	A682r	5′-GAASGCNGAGAAGAASGC-3′	10
Soluble methane monooxygenase (mmoX)	mmo882f	5′-GGCTCCAAGTTCAAGGTCGAGC-3′	23
	mmo1403r	5′-TGGCACTCGTAGCGCTCCGGCTCG-3′	23
Methanol dehydrogenase (mxaF)	mxa1003f	5′-GCGGCACCAACTGGGGCTGGT-3′	24
	mxa1561r	5′-GGGCAGCATGAAGGGCTCCC-3′	24

^aD = A, T, or G; H = A, T, or C; K = T or G; N = A, T, C, or G; M = C or A; R = A or G; S = G or C; V = A; C, or G; W = A or T; Y = C or T.