Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1980 Feb;141(2):728–734. doi: 10.1128/jb.141.2.728-734.1980

Methyl-coenzyme M, an intermediate in methanogenic dissimilation of C1 compounds by Methanosarcina barkeri.

S Shapiro, R S Wolfe
PMCID: PMC293682  PMID: 6444945

Abstract

Extracts of Methanosarcina barkeri possess a specific methyltransferase that catalyzes the transfer of the methyl group of methanol to 2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid. Over a fourfold range in added 2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid, the formation of 2-(methylthio)ethanesulfonic acid exhibited a 1:1 ratio to 2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid added. This reaction required adenosine 5'-triphosphate; a maximal ratio (mole/mole) of 85 methyl groups was transferred per adenosine 5'-triphosphate added. The methyltransferase was found in extracts of methanol-grown cells as well as in extracts of hydrogen-grown cells. In extracts of cells grown on either substrate, 2-(methylthio)ethanesulfonic acid was formed from added methanol or methylamine but not from acetate.

Full text

PDF
733

Selected References

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

  1. BLAYLOCK B. A., STADTMAN T. C. Biosynthesis of methane from the methyl moiety of methylcobalamin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1963 Apr 2;11:34–38. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(63)90023-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Balch W. E., Wolfe R. S. New approach to the cultivation of methanogenic bacteria: 2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid (HS-CoM)-dependent growth of Methanobacterium ruminantium in a pressureized atmosphere. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1976 Dec;32(6):781–791. doi: 10.1128/aem.32.6.781-791.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Balch W. E., Wolfe R. S. Specificity and biological distribution of coenzyme M (2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid). J Bacteriol. 1979 Jan;137(1):256–263. doi: 10.1128/jb.137.1.256-263.1979. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Blaylock B. A. Cobamide-dependent methanol-cyanocob(I)alamin methyltransferase of Methanosarcina barkeri. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1968 Mar 20;124(1):314–324. doi: 10.1016/0003-9861(68)90333-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Blaylock B. A., Stadtman T. C. Methane biosynthesis by Methanosarcina barkeri. Properties of the soluble enzyme system. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1966 Sep 26;116(1):138–152. doi: 10.1016/0003-9861(66)90022-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Eirich L. D., Vogels G. D., Wolfe R. S. Distribution of coenzyme F420 and properties of its hydrolytic fragments. J Bacteriol. 1979 Oct;140(1):20–27. doi: 10.1128/jb.140.1.20-27.1979. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Gunsalus R. P., Romesser J. A., Wolfe R. S. Preparation of coenzyme M analogues and their activity in the methyl coenzyme M reductase system of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum. Biochemistry. 1978 Jun 13;17(12):2374–2377. doi: 10.1021/bi00605a019. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hippe H., Caspari D., Fiebig K., Gottschalk G. Utilization of trimethylamine and other N-methyl compounds for growth and methane formation by Methanosarcina barkeri. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1979 Jan;76(1):494–498. doi: 10.1073/pnas.76.1.494. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. LOWRY O. H., ROSEBROUGH N. J., FARR A. L., RANDALL R. J. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem. 1951 Nov;193(1):265–275. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. McBride B. C., Wolfe R. S. A new coenzyme of methyl transfer, coenzyme M. Biochemistry. 1971 Jun 8;10(12):2317–2324. doi: 10.1021/bi00788a022. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. NIELSEN S. O., LEHNINGER A. L. Phosphorylation coupled to the oxidation of ferrocytochrome c. J Biol Chem. 1955 Aug;215(2):555–570. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. PINE M. J., BARKER H. A. Studies on the methane fermentation. XII. The pathway of hydrogen in the acetate fermentation. J Bacteriol. 1956 Jun;71(6):644–648. doi: 10.1128/jb.71.6.644-648.1956. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. PINE M. J., VISHNIAC W. The methane fermentations of acetate and methanol. J Bacteriol. 1957 Jun;73(6):736–742. doi: 10.1128/jb.73.6.736-742.1957. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Robertson A. M., Wolfe R. S. ATP requirement for methanogenesis in cell extracts of methanobacterium strain M.o.H. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1969 Dec 30;192(3):420–429. doi: 10.1016/0304-4165(69)90391-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. STADTMAN T. C., BARKER H. A. Studies on the methane fermentation. IX. The origin of methane in the acetate and methanol fermentations by methanosarcina. J Bacteriol. 1951 Jan;61(1):81–86. doi: 10.1128/jb.61.1.81-86.1951. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Smith M. R., Mah R. A. Growth and methanogenesis by Methanosarcina strain 227 on acetate and methanol. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1978 Dec;36(6):870–879. doi: 10.1128/aem.36.6.870-879.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Taylor C. D., Wolfe R. S. Structure and methylation of coenzyme M(HSCH2CH2SO3). J Biol Chem. 1974 Aug 10;249(15):4879–4885. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. WOLIN E. A., WOLIN M. J., WOLFE R. S. FORMATION OF METHANE BY BACTERIAL EXTRACTS. J Biol Chem. 1963 Aug;238:2882–2886. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. WOLIN M. J., WOLIN E. A., WOLFE R. S. ATP-DEPENDENT FORMATION OF METHANE FROMMETHYLCOBALAMIN BY EXTRACTS OF METHANOBACILLUS OMELIANSKII. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1963 Aug 20;12:464–468. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(63)90316-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Weimer P. J., Zeikus J. G. One carbon metabolism in methanogenic bacteria. Cellular characterization and growth of Methanosarcina barkeri. Arch Microbiol. 1978 Oct 4;119(1):49–57. doi: 10.1007/BF00407927. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Winter J., Wolfe R. S. Complete degradation of carbohydrate to carbon dioxide and methane by syntrophic cultures of Acetobacterium woodii and Methanosarcina barkeri. Arch Microbiol. 1979 Apr;121(1):97–102. doi: 10.1007/BF00409211. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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

RESOURCES