Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1988 Oct;170(10):4594–4597. doi: 10.1128/jb.170.10.4594-4597.1988

Structural diversity among methanofurans from different methanogenic bacteria.

R H White 1
PMCID: PMC211496  PMID: 3170480

Abstract

An examination of the methanofurans isolated from a wide range of methanogenic bacteria and from Archaeoglobus fulgidus has revealed at least five chromatographically distinct methanofurans. Bacteria from each major genus of methanogenic bacteria have been found to contain a chemically different methanofuran. The nature of the differences in the methanofurans appears to lie in the modification of the side chain attached to the basic core structure of 4-[N-(gamma-L-glutamyl-gamma-L-glutamyl)-p-(beta-aminoethyl)phenoxyme thy l]-2-(amino-methyl)furan. This was supported by the structural elucidation of the methanofuran isolated from Methanobrevibacter smithii, designated methanofuran-c, which was the same as the originally characterized methanofuran except for a hydroxy group at the 2 position of the 4,5-dicarboxyoctanedioic acid moiety of the molecule.

Full text

PDF
4595

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Achenbach-Richter L., Stetter K. O., Woese C. R. A possible biochemical missing link among archaebacteria. Nature. 1987 May 28;327(6120):348–349. doi: 10.1038/327348a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Balch W. E., Fox G. E., Magrum L. J., Woese C. R., Wolfe R. S. Methanogens: reevaluation of a unique biological group. Microbiol Rev. 1979 Jun;43(2):260–296. doi: 10.1128/mr.43.2.260-296.1979. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bobik T. A., Donnelly M. I., Rinehart K. L., Jr, Wolfe R. S. Structure of a methanofuran derivative found in cell extracts of Methanosarcina barkeri. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1987 May 1;254(2):430–436. doi: 10.1016/0003-9861(87)90121-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. HEACOCK R. A., MAHON M. E. THE COLOUR REACTIONS OF THE HYDROXYSKATOLES. J Chromatogr. 1965 Feb;17:338–348. doi: 10.1016/s0021-9673(00)99878-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Jones W. J., Donnelly M. I., Wolfe R. S. Evidence of a common pathway of carbon dioxide reduction to methane in methanogens. J Bacteriol. 1985 Jul;163(1):126–131. doi: 10.1128/jb.163.1.126-131.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Jones W. J., Nagle D. P., Jr, Whitman W. B. Methanogens and the diversity of archaebacteria. Microbiol Rev. 1987 Mar;51(1):135–177. doi: 10.1128/mr.51.1.135-177.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Leigh J. A., Rinehart K. L., Jr, Wolfe R. S. Methanofuran (carbon dioxide reduction factor), a formyl carrier in methane production from carbon dioxide in Methanobacterium. Biochemistry. 1985 Feb 12;24(4):995–999. doi: 10.1021/bi00325a028. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Leigh J. A., Wolfe R. S. Carbon dioxide reduction factor and methanopterin, two coenzymes required for CO2 reduction to methane by extracts of Methanobacterium. J Biol Chem. 1983 Jun 25;258(12):7536–7540. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lin X. L., White R. H. Occurrence of coenzyme F420 and its gamma-monoglutamyl derivative in nonmethanogenic archaebacteria. J Bacteriol. 1986 Oct;168(1):444–448. doi: 10.1128/jb.168.1.444-448.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Lovley D. R., Greening R. C., Ferry J. G. Rapidly growing rumen methanogenic organism that synthesizes coenzyme M and has a high affinity for formate. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1984 Jul;48(1):81–87. doi: 10.1128/aem.48.1.81-87.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Schauer N. L., Ferry J. G. Metabolism of formate in Methanobacterium formicicum. J Bacteriol. 1980 Jun;142(3):800–807. doi: 10.1128/jb.142.3.800-807.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Stetter K. O., Lauerer G., Thomm M., Neuner A. Isolation of extremely thermophilic sulfate reducers: evidence for a novel branch of archaebacteria. Science. 1987 May 15;236(4803):822–824. doi: 10.1126/science.236.4803.822. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. VAGELOS P. R., EARL J. M., STADTMAN E. R. Propionic acid metabolism. I. The purification and properties of acrylyl coenzme A aminase. J Biol Chem. 1959 Mar;234(3):490–497. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. White R. H. Biosynthesis of the 2-(aminomethyl)-4-(hydroxymethyl)furan subunit of methanofuran. Biochemistry. 1988 Jun 14;27(12):4415–4420. doi: 10.1021/bi00412a031. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Bacteriology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES