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

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6711024

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
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English