Activation of formylmethanofurna synthesis in cell extracts of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Journal of Bacteriology; (USA)

OSTI ID:7147023

Bobik, T A; Wolfe, R S ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Illinois, Urbana (USA)

In cell extracts of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, formylmethanofuran (formyl-MFR) synthesis (an essential CO{sub 2} fixation reaction that is an early step in CO{sub 2} reduction to methane) is subject to a complex activation that involves a heterodisulfide of coenzyme M and N-(7-mercaptoheptanoyl)threonine O{sup 3}-phosphate (CoM-S-S-HTP). In this paper we report that titanium(III) citrate, a low-potential reducing agent, stimulated CO{sub 2} reduction to methane and activated formyl-MFR synthesis in cell extracts. Titanium(III) citrate functioned as the sole source of electrons for formyl-MFR synthesis and enabled this reaction to occur independently of CoM-S-S-HTP. In addition, CoM-S-S-HTP was found to activate an unknown electron carrier that reduced metronidazole. The activation of formyl-MFR synthesis by CoM-S-S-HTP may involve the activation of a low-potential electron carrier.

• OSTI ID: 7147023
• Journal Information: Journal of Bacteriology; (USA), Vol. 171:3; ISSN 0021-9193
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
METHANE
BIOSYNTHESIS
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
GROWTH
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
CARBON DIOXIDE
COENZYMES
ELECTRONS
REAGENTS
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
ALKANES
BACTERIA
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HYDROCARBONS
LEPTONS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SYNTHESIS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
550500* - Metabolism