Genetic Confirmation of the Role of Sulfopyruvate Decarboxylase in Coenzyme M Biosynthesis in Methanococcus maripaludis

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2013 · Archaea

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/185250· OSTI ID:1197873

Sarmiento, Felipe ^[1]; Ellison, Courtney K. ^[1]; Whitman, William B. ^[1]

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1. Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, 541 Biological Science Building, Athens, GA 30602-2605, USA

Coenzyme M is an essential coenzyme for methanogenesis. The proposed biosynthetic pathway consists of five steps, of which the fourth step is catalyzed by sulfopyruvate decarboxylase (ComDE). Disruption of the gene comE by transposon mutagenesis resulted in a partial coenzyme M auxotroph, which grew poorly in the absence of coenzyme M and retained less than 3% of the wild type level of coenzyme M biosynthesis. Upon coenzyme M addition, normal growth of the mutant was restored. Moreover, complementation of the mutation with the wild type comE gene in trans restored full growth in the absence of coenzyme M. These results confirm that ComE plays an important role in coenzyme M biosynthesis. The inability to yield a complete CoM auxotroph suggests that either the transposon insertion failed to completely inactivate the gene or M. maripaludis possesses a promiscuous activity that partially complemented the mutation.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science Division
• OSTI ID: 1197873
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1626209
• Journal Information: Archaea, Journal Name: Archaea Vol. 2013; ISSN 1472-3646
• Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Microbiology