Identification and Characterization of Reaction Steps and Enzyme Catalysts Involved in the Conversion of Acetate and Methyl Groups to Methane. Final Report, October 1984-October 1987

摘要

The overall objective of the research is to identify the enzymatic steps involved in the reduction to methane of the methyl group of acetate and certain other one-carbon compounds (e.g., methanol, formate, CH3-SCoM, or CH3-B12). Studies on the mechanism of action of the enzymes involved would ultimately provide information which could be used in constructing synthetic or semi-synthetic catalysts for industrial purposes, and would be extremely helpful in the design of methods to improve the efficiency and reliability of bioconversion processes. The initial goals were to develop procedures by which the enzymes suspected to be involved can be purified in sufficiently large quantities for biochemical studies of their structure and function. The enzymatic components were to be characterized in detail such that experiments could be undertaken to determine their exact roles and mechanisms of action in methanogenesis. This course of action was pursued with the two enzymes carbon monoxide dehydrogenase and Co-methylcobamide:2-thioethanesulfonate methyltransferase.