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Title: From micelles to bicelles: Effect of the membrane on particulate methane monooxygenase activity

Journal Article · · Journal of Biological Chemistry

Particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) is a copper-dependent integral membrane metalloenzyme that converts methane to methanol in methanotrophic bacteria. Studies of isolated pMMO have been hindered by loss of enzymatic activity upon its removal from the native membrane. To characterize pMMO in a membrane-like environment, we reconstituted pMMOs from Methylococcus (Mcc.) capsulatus (Bath) and Methylomicrobium (Mm.) alcaliphilum 20Z into bicelles. Reconstitution into bicelles recovers methane oxidation activity lost upon detergent solubilization and purification without substantial alterations to copper content or copper electronic structure, as observed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. These findings suggest that loss of pMMO activity upon isolation is due to removal from the membranes rather than caused by loss of the catalytic copper ions. A 2.7 Å resolution crystal structure of pMMO from Mm. alcaliphilum 20Z reveals a mononuclear copper center in the PmoB subunit and indicates that the transmembrane PmoC subunit may be conformationally flexible. Finally, results from extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis of pMMO from Mm. alcaliphilum 20Z were consistent with the observed monocopper center in the PmoB subunit. These results underscore the importance of studying membrane proteins in a membrane-like environment and provide valuable insight into pMMO function.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515
OSTI ID:
1544885
Journal Information:
Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 293, Issue 27; ISSN 0021-9258
Publisher:
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 34 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (7)

Particulate methane monooxygenase contains only mononuclear copper centers journal May 2019
Chemie, Biologie und Regulierung der Nitrifikation von Ammonium im Boden journal October 2019
Biological conversion of methane to methanol through genetic reassembly of native catalytic domains journal April 2019
Characterization of a long overlooked copper protein from methane- and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria journal October 2018
Native top-down mass spectrometry provides insights into the copper centers of membrane-bound methane monooxygenase journal June 2019
Structure and function of the lanthanide-dependent methanol dehydrogenase XoxF from the methanotroph Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1C journal August 2018
The Chemistry, Biology, and Modulation of Ammonium Nitrification in Soil journal February 2020