Physiology and biochemistry of single carbon catabolism by Butyribacterium methylotrophicum, and anaerobic acetogen

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6711024

Kerby, R

The catabolism of methanol, formate, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide by the anaerobic acetogen Butyribacterium methylotrophicum was examined by several fermentation time course, /sup 13/C-NMR, /sup 14/C radioisotope tracer, and enzyme level analyses. During the simultaneous consumption of methanol and a more oxidized cosubstrate, methanol carbon was primarily funneled into the acetate methyl group with the co-substrate carbon predominantly incorporated into the acetate carboxyl. Formate and carbon monoxide were also simultaneously consumed and were preferentially distributed into the acetate methyl and carboxyl groups, respectively. These studies supported the function of a bifurcated single carbon catabolic pathway with carbonyl and methyl group synthesis routes jointed at acetyl-CoA, the primary reduced product. Isotope dilution experiments testified to the key role of carbon dioxide as the sole carbon unit which links the two halves of this catabolic mechanism. High levels of carbon monoxide and formate dehydrogenases and the tetrahydrofolate-requiring enzymes including methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase correlated with the consumption of certain single carbon substrates. Implications of this catabolic scheme on acetogenic ATP synthesis via electron transport phosphorylation are discussed and the results of proton motive force analyses presented.

• Research Organization: Wisconsin Univ., Madison (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6711024
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ALCOHOLS
ATP
BACTERIA
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
CARBON 13
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
ENZYME ACTIVITY
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FORMATES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
METABOLISM
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
METHANOL
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
NUCLEI
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESONANCE
STABLE ISOTOPES
TRACER TECHNIQUES