Formaldehyde oxidation and methanogenesis. [Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum; Methanococcus voltae; Methanococcus jannaschii]

Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1984 · J. Bacteriol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6005679

Escalante-Semerena, J C; Wolfe, R S

Formaldehyde oxidation by cell-free extracts of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum was shown to drive methanogenesis from CH/sub 3/-S-coenzyme M or HCHO under a nonreductive atmosphere of N/sub 2/. Under N/sub 2/ when HCHO was the sole source of carbon and reducing equivalents in the reaction, it underwent oxidation and reduction events (disproportionation), the sum of the reactions being 3 HCHO + H/sub 2/O ..-->.. CH/sub 4/ + 2 HCOO/sup -/ + 2H. This reaction predicts a CH/sub 4/lHCHO ratio of 1/3, which is in agreement with the experimental finding of 1/2.9. In extracts of the mesophilic methanogen Methanococcus voltae and the extreme thermophile Methanococcus jannaschii, which exhibited formate dehydrogenase activity, the CH/sub 4//HCHO ratio was 1/2. NADPH stimulated methane formation from HCHO under N/sub 2/. An unidentified, oxygen-labile cofactor, the formaldehyde activation factor, present in boiled-cell extract was discovered. Methanopterin, an oxygen-stable molecule, also substituted for boiled cell extract.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Illinois, Urbana
• OSTI ID: 6005679
• Journal Information: J. Bacteriol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Bacteriol.; (United States) Vol. 158:2; ISSN JOBAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550700* -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALDEHYDES
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BACTERIA
BIOCONVERSION
BIOSYNTHESIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DIGESTION
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
FORMALDEHYDE
GROWTH
HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
METHANE
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PROCESSING
REDOX REACTIONS
SYNTHESIS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING