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Title: One-carbon metabolism in anaerobes: Organic acid and methane production: Final technical report for period June 1, 1985-May 31,1987

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5166973

Objectives of this project dealt with understanding one- and multicarbon metabolism in acetogenic and methanogenic bacteria. The biochemistry of acetate catabolism in Methanosarcina barkeri in relation to their major enzyme activities, co-factors and intermediates were studied. The physiological function of CO-dehydrogenase was investigated and found to be involved in hydrogen production when CO was used as substrate. Hydrogen metabolism from acetate by Methanosarcina barkeri was investigated through isotope tracer studies. Results showed that hydrogen production appears to be linked to several intracellular redox processes which follow the cleavage of acetate. The metabolic pathway in Butyribacterium methylotrophicum for multicarbon metabolism was elucidated. The key enzyme, ferredoxin-NAD reductase, was found to be regulated by NADH. The one carbon and multicarbon metabolic pathways in Butyribacterium methylotrophicum were constituted. Hydrogen was produced through multicarbon metabolism and was consumed by one carbon metabolism through the reduction of CO/sub 2/. Results revealed why high efficiency of carbon and energy conservation was observed in acetogens. The catabolism of formate to acetate by this microorganism was analyzed by fermentation time course and /sup 13/C nuclear magnetic resonance studies. Results indicate a bifurcated single-carbon catabolic pathway in which CO/sub 2/ is the sole single-carbon compound that directly supplies the carbonyl and methyl group synthesis pathways leading to the formation of acetyl coenzyme A, the primary reduced product. 1 fig.

Research Organization:
Michigan State Univ., East Lansing (USA). Dept. of Biochemistry
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-85ER13376
OSTI ID:
5166973
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/13376-2; ON: DE88008137
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English