Evidence of a common pathway of carbon dioxide reduction to methane in methanogens

The origin and evolution of methanogenesis and Archaea are intertwined

Methanogenesis has been widely accepted as an ancient metabolism, but the precise evolutionary trajectory remains hotly debated. Disparate theories exist regarding its emergence time, ancestral form, and relationship with homologous metabolisms. Here, we report the phylogenies of anabolism-involved proteins responsible for cofactor biosynthesis, providing new evidence for the antiquity of methanogenesis. Revisiting the phylogenies of key catabolism-involved proteins further suggests that the last Archaea common ancestor (LACA) was capable of versatile H₂-, CO₂-, and methanol-utilizing methanogenesis. Based on phylogenetic analyses of the methyl/alkyl-S-CoM reductase family, we propose that, in contrast to current paradigms, substrate-specific functions emerged through parallel evolution traced back to a nonspecific ancestor, which likely originated from protein-free reactions as predicted from autocatalytic experiments using cofactor F₄₃₀. After LACA, inheritance/loss/innovation centered around methanogenic lithoautotrophy coincided with ancient lifestyle divergence, which is clearly reflected by genomically predicted physiologies of extant archaea. Thus, methanogenesis is not only a hallmark metabolism of Archaea, but the key to resolve the enigmatic lifestyle that ancestral archaea took and the transition that led to physiologies prominent today.

Scale-up of biomass production by Methanococcus maripaludis

The development of a sustainable energy economy is one of the great challenges in the current times of climate crisis and growing energy demands. Industrial production of the fifth-generation biofuel methane by microorganisms has the potential to become a crucial biotechnological milestone of the post fossil fuel era. Therefore, reproducible cultivation and scale-up of methanogenic archaea (methanogens) is essential for enabling biomass generation for fundamental studies and for defining peak performance conditions for bioprocess development. This study provides a comprehensive revision of established and optimization of novel methods for the cultivation of the model organism Methanococcus maripaludis S0001. In closed batch mode, 0.05 L serum bottles cultures were gradually replaced by 0.4 L Schott bottle cultures for regular biomass generation, and the time for reaching peak optical density (OD₅₇₈) values was reduced in half. In 1.5 L reactor cultures, various agitation, harvesting and transfer methods were compared resulting in a specific growth rate of 0.16 h^-1 and the highest recorded OD₅₇₈ of 3.4. Finally, a 300-fold scale-up from serum bottles was achieved by growing M. maripaludis for the first time in a 22 L stainless steel bioreactor with 15 L working volume. Altogether, the experimental approaches described in this study contribute to establishing methanogens as essential organisms in large-scale biotechnology applications, a crucial stage of an urgently needed industrial evolution toward sustainable biosynthesis of energy and high value products.

A novel sulfide-driven denitrification methane oxidation (SDMO) system: Operational performance and metabolic mechanisms

Microbial denitrification is a crucial biological process for the treatment of nitrogen-polluted water. Traditional denitrification process consumes external organic carbon leading to an increase in treatment costs. We developed a novel sulfide-driven denitrification methane oxidation (SDMO) system that integrates autotrophic denitrification (AD) and denitrification anaerobic methane oxidation (DAMO) for cost-effective denitrification and biogas utilization in situ. Two SDMO systems were operated for 735 days, with nitrate and nitrite serving as electron acceptors, to explore the performance of sewage denitrification and characterize metabolic mechanisms. Results showed SDMO system could reach as high as 100% efficiency of nitrogen removal and biogas desulfurization without an external carbon source when HRT was 10 days and inflow nitrogen concentrations were 50-100 mgN·L^-1. Besides, nitrate was a preferable electron acceptor for SDMO system. Biogas not only enhanced nitrogen removal but also intensified the DAMO, nitrogen removed through DAMO contribution doubled as original period from 2.9 mgN·(L·d)^-1 to 6.2 mgN·(L·d)^-1, and the ratio of nitrate removal through AD to DAMO was 1.2:1 with nitrate as electron acceptor. While nitrogen removed almost all through AD contribution and DAMO was weaken as before, the ratio of nitrate removal through AD to DAMO was 21.2:1 with nitrite as electron acceptor. Biogas introduced into SDMO system with nitrate inspired the growth of DAMO bacteria Candidatus Methylomirabilis from 0.3% to 19.6% and motivated its potentiality to remove nitrate without ANME archaea participation accompanying with gene mfnE upregulating ∼100 times. According to the reconstructed genome from binning analysis, the dramatically upregulated gene mfnE was derived from Candidatus Methylomirabilis, which may represent a novel metabolism pathway for DAMO bacteria to replace the role of archaea for nitrate reduction.

The fitness of chemotrophs increases when their catabolic by-products are consumed by other species

Chemotrophic microorganisms synthesise biomass by utilising energy obtained from a set of chemical reactions that convert resources to by-products, forming catabolic interactions. The amount of energy obtained per catabolic reaction decreases with the abundance of the by-product named as the 'abundant resource premium'. Consider two species, Species 1 and 2, Species 1 obtains energy from a reaction that converts resource A to by-product B. Species 2 then utilises B as its resource, extracting energy from a reaction that converts B to C. Thus, the presence of Species 2 reduces the abundance of B, which improves the fitness of Species 1 by increasing the energy acquisition per reaction of A to B. We discuss the population dynamic implication of this effect and its importance in expanding a realised niche, boosting material flow through the ecosystem and providing mutualistic interactions among species linked by the material flow. Introducing thermodynamics into population ecology could offer us fundamental ecological insights into understanding the ecology of chemotrophic microorganisms dominating the subsurface realm.

Metabolic processes of Methanococcus maripaludis and potential applications

Methanococcus maripaludis is a rapidly growing, fully sequenced, genetically tractable model organism among hydrogenotrophic methanogens. It has the ability to convert CO2 and H2 into a useful cleaner energy fuel (CH4). In fact, this conversion enhances in the presence of free nitrogen as the sole nitrogen source due to prolonged cell growth. Given the global importance of GHG emissions and climate change, diazotrophy can be attractive for carbon capture and utilization applications from appropriately treated flue gases, where surplus hydrogen is available from renewable electricity sources. In addition, M. maripaludis can be engineered to produce other useful products such as terpenoids, hydrogen, methanol, etc. M. maripaludis with its unique abilities has the potential to be a workhorse like Escherichia coli and S. cerevisiae for fundamental and experimental biotechnology studies. More than 100 experimental studies have explored different specific aspects of the biochemistry and genetics of CO2 and N2 fixation by M. maripaludis. Its genome-scale metabolic model (iMM518) also exists to study genetic perturbations and complex biological interactions. However, a comprehensive review describing its cell structure, metabolic processes, and methanogenesis is still lacking in the literature. This review fills this crucial gap. Specifically, it integrates distributed information from the literature to provide a complete and detailed view for metabolic processes such as acetyl-CoA synthesis, pyruvate synthesis, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, reductive tricarboxylic acid (RTCA) cycle, non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (NOPPP), nitrogen metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and nucleotide biosynthesis. It discusses energy production via methanogenesis and its relation to metabolism. Furthermore, it reviews taxonomy, cell structure, culture/storage conditions, molecular biology tools, genome-scale models, and potential industrial and environmental applications. Through the discussion, it develops new insights and hypotheses from experimental and modeling observations, and identifies opportunities for further research and applications.

Flux measurements and maintenance energy for carbon dioxide utilization by Methanococcus maripaludis

BACKGROUND

The rapidly growing mesophilic methanogen Methanococcus maripaludis S2 has a unique ability to consume both CO2 and N2, the main components of a flue gas, and produce methane with H2 as the electron donor. The existing literature lacks experimental measurements of CO2 and H2 uptake rates and CH4 production rates on M. maripaludis. Furthermore, it lacks estimates of maintenance energies for use with genome-scale models. In this paper, we performed batch culture experiments on M. maripaludis S2 using CO2 as the sole carbon substrate to quantify three key extracellular fluxes (CO2, H2, and CH4) along with specific growth rates. For precise computation of these fluxes from experimental measurements, we developed a systematic process simulation approach. Then, using an existing genome-scale model, we proposed an optimization procedure to estimate maintenance energy parameters: growth associated maintenance (GAM) and non-growth associated maintenance (NGAM).

RESULTS

The measured extracellular fluxes for M. maripaludis showed excellent agreement with in silico predictions from a validated genome-scale model (iMM518) for NGAM = 7.836 mmol/gDCW/h and GAM = 27.14 mmol/gDCW. M. maripaludis achieved a CO2 to CH4 conversion yield of 70-95 % and a growth yield of 3.549 ± 0.149 g DCW/mol CH4 during the exponential phase. The ATP gain of 0.35 molATP/molCH4 for M. maripaludis, computed using NGAM, is in the acceptable range of 0.3-0.7 mol ATP/molCH4 reported for methanogens. Interestingly, the uptake distribution of amino acids, quantified using iMM518, confirmed alanine to be the most preferred amino acids for growth and methanogenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to report experimental gas consumption and production rates for the growth of M. maripaludis on CO2 and H2 in minimal media. A systematic process simulation and optimization procedure was successfully developed to precisely quantify extracellular fluxes along with cell growth and maintenance energy parameters. Our growth yields, ATP gain, and energy parameters fall within acceptable ranges known in the literature for hydrogenotrophic methanogens.

Identification of structurally diverse methanofuran coenzymes in methanococcales that are both N-formylated and N-acetylated

Methanofuran (MF) is a coenzyme necessary for the first step of methanogenesis from CO2. The well-characterized MF core structure is 4-[N-(γ-l-glutamyl-γ-l-glutamyl)-p-(β-aminoethyl)phenoxymethyl]-2-(aminomethyl)furan (APMF-γ-Glu2). Three different MF structures that differ on the basis of the composition of their side chains have been determined previously. Here, we use liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry and a variety of biochemical methods to deduce the unique structures of MFs present in four different methanogens in the order Methanococcales. This is the first detailed characterization of the MF occurring in methanogens of this order. MF in each of these organisms contains the expected APMF-γ-Glu2; however, the composition of the side chain is different from that of the previously described MF structures. In Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, additional γ-linked glutamates that range from 7 to 12 residues are present. The MF coenzymes in Methanococcus maripaludis, Methanococcus vannielii, and Methanothermococcus okinawensis also have additional glutamate residues but interestingly also contain a completely different chemical moiety in the middle of the side chain that we have identified as N-(3-carboxy-2- or 3-hydroxy-1-oxopropyl)-l-aspartic acid. This addition results in the terminal γ-linked glutamates being incorporated in the opposite orientation. In addition to these nonacylated MF coenzymes, we also identified the corresponding N-formyl-MF and, surprisingly, N-acetyl-MF derivatives. N-Acetyl-MF has never been observed or implied to be functioning in nature and may represent a new route for acetate formation in methanogens.

Biosynthesis of the 5-(Aminomethyl)-3-furanmethanol moiety of methanofuran

We have established the biosynthetic pathway and the associated genes for the biosynthesis of the 5-(aminomethyl)-3-furanmethanol (F1) moiety of methanofuran in the methanogenic archaeon Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. The recombinant enzyme, derived from the MJ1099 gene, was shown to readily condense glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (Ga-3P) and dihydroxyacetone-P (DHAP) to form 4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furancarboxaldehyde phosphate (4-HFC-P). The recombinant purified pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent aminotransferase, derived from the MJ0684 gene, was found to be specific for catalyzing the transamination reaction between 4-HFC-P and [(15)N]alanine to produce [(15)N] 5-(aminomethyl)-3-furanmethanol-P (F1-P) and pyruvate. To confirm these results in cell extracts, we developed sensitive analytical methods for the liquid chromatography-ultraviolet-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis of F1 as a 7-nitrobenzofurazan derivative. This method has allowed for the quantitation of trace amounts of F1 and F1-P in cell extracts and the measurement of the incorporation of stable isotopically labeled precursors into F1. After incubation of cell extracts with [1,2,3-(13)C3]pyruvate and DHAP, 4-([(2)H2]hydroxymethyl)-2-furancarboxylic acid phosphate (4-HFCA-P) or 4-([(2)H2]hydroxymethyl)-2-furancarboxaldehyde phosphate (4-HFC-P) was found to be incorporated into F1-P. 4-HFCA-P and 4-HFC-P were confirmed in cell extracts after removal of the phosphate. The low level of incorporation of [1,2,3-(13)C3]pyruvate into F1-P in these experiments is explained by the fact that the labeled pyruvate must first be converted into Ga-3-P through gluconeogenesis before being incorporated into 4-HFC-P. Cell extracts incubated with 4-HFC-P and a mixture of [(15)N]aspartate, [(15)N]glutamate, and [(15)N]alanine produced [(15)N]F1-P. We also demonstrated that aqueous solutions of methylglyoxal or pyruvate heated with dihydroxyacetone led to the formation of 4-HFC and 4-HFCA, suggesting a possible prebiotic route to this moiety of methanofuran.

Biochemical fossils of the ancient transition from geoenergetics to bioenergetics in prokaryotic one carbon compound metabolism

The deep dichotomy of archaea and bacteria is evident in many basic traits including ribosomal protein composition, membrane lipid synthesis, cell wall constituents, and flagellar composition. Here we explore that deep dichotomy further by examining the distribution of genes for the synthesis of the central carriers of one carbon units, tetrahydrofolate (H4F) and tetrahydromethanopterin (H4MPT), in bacteria and archaea. The enzymes underlying those distinct biosynthetic routes are broadly unrelated across the bacterial-archaeal divide, indicating that the corresponding pathways arose independently. That deep divergence in one carbon metabolism is mirrored in the structurally unrelated enzymes and different organic cofactors that methanogens (archaea) and acetogens (bacteria) use to perform methyl synthesis in their H4F- and H4MPT-dependent versions, respectively, of the acetyl-CoA pathway. By contrast, acetyl synthesis in the acetyl-CoA pathway - from a methyl group, CO2 and reduced ferredoxin - is simpler, uniform and conserved across acetogens and methanogens, and involves only transition metals as catalysts. The data suggest that the acetyl-CoA pathway, while being the most ancient of known CO2 assimilation pathways, reflects two phases in early evolution: an ancient phase in a geochemically confined and non-free-living universal common ancestor, in which acetyl thioester synthesis proceeded spontaneously with the help of geochemically supplied methyl groups, and a later phase that reflects the primordial divergence of the bacterial and archaeal stem groups, which independently invented genetically-encoded means to synthesize methyl groups via enzymatic reactions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 18th European Bioenergetic Conference.

Solution (sup13)C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Analysis of the Amino Acids of Methanosphaera stadtmanae: Biosynthesis and Origin of One-Carbon Units from Acetate and Carbon Dioxide

We found that general pathways for amino acid synthesis of Methanosphaera stadtmanae, a methanogen that forms CH(inf4) from H(inf2) and methanol, resembled those of methanogens that form CH(inf4) from CO(inf2) or from the methyl group of acetate. We determined the incorporation of (sup14)C-labeled CO(inf2), formate, methanol, methionine, serine, and acetate into cell macromolecules. Labeling of amino acid carbons was determined by solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy after growth with (sup13)C-labeled acetate, CO(inf2), serine, and methanol. The (alpha) and (beta) carbons of serine and alanine were formed from carboxyl and methyl carbons of acetate, respectively, and the amino acid carboxyl groups were formed from CO(inf2). This indicates that pyruvate was formed by reductive carboxylation of acetate. Labeling of the methyl carbon of methionine indicated that the major route of synthesis was from the hydroxymethyl carbon of serine that arises from the methyl carbon of acetate. Methanol was a minor source of the methyl of methionine. Unambiguous assignment was made of the sources of all carbons of histidine. Labeling of the histidine 7 position ((epsilon) carbon) was consistent with formation from the C-2 of the purine ring of ATP and the origin of the C-2 from a formyl unit derived from the hydroxymethyl carbon of serine.

Steady state characteristics of acclimated hydrogenotrophic methanogens on inorganic substrate in continuous chemostat reactors

A Monod model has been used to describe the steady state characteristics of the acclimated mesophilic hydrogenotrophic methanogens in experimental chemostat reactors. The bacteria were fed with mineral salts and specific trace metals and a H(2)/CO(2) supply was used as a single limited substrate. Under steady state conditions, the growth yield (Y(CH4)) reached 11.66 g cells per mmol of H(2)/CO(2) consumed. The daily cells generation average was 5.67 x 10(11), 5.25 x 10(11), 4.2 x 10(11) and 2.1 x 10(11) cells/l-culture for the dilutions 0.071/d, 0.083/d, 0.1/d and 0.125/d, respectively. The maximum specific growth rate (mu(max)) and the Monod half-saturation coefficient (K(S)) were 0.15/d and 0.82 g/L, respectively. Using these results, the reactor performance was simulated. During the steady state, the simulation predicts the dependence of the H(2)/CO(2) concentration (S) and the cell concentration (X) on the dilution rate. The model fitted the experimental data well and was able to yield a maximum methanogenic activity of 0.24 L CH(4)/g VSS.d. The dilution rate was estimated to be 0.1/d. At the dilution rate of 0.14/d, the exponential cells washout was achieved.

Bioenergetics of the formyl-methanofuran dehydrogenase and heterodisulfide reductase reactions in Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus

The synthesis of formyl-methanofuran and the reduction of the heterodisulfide (CoM-S-S-CoB) of coenzyme M (HS-CoM) and coenzyme B (HS-CoB) are two crucial, H2-dependent reactions in the energy metabolism of methanogenic archaea. The bioenergetics of the reactions in vivo were studied in chemostat cultures and in cell suspensions of Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus metabolizing at defined dissolved hydrogen partial pressures ( pH2). Formyl-methanofuran synthesis is an endergonic reaction (DeltaG degrees ' = +16 kJ.mol-1). By analyzing the concentration ratios between formyl-methanofuran and methanofuran in the cells, free energy changes under experimental conditions (DeltaG') were found to range between +10 and +35 kJ.mol-1 depending on the pH2 applied. The comparison with the sodium motive force indicated that the reaction should be driven by the import of a variable number of two to four sodium ions. Heterodisulfide reduction (DeltaG degrees ' = -40 kJ.mol-1) was associated with free energy changes as high as -55 to -80 kJ.mol-1. The values were determined by analyzing the concentrations of CoM-S-S-CoB, HS-CoM and HS-CoB in methane-forming cells operating under a variety of hydrogen partial pressures. Free energy changes were in equilibrium with the proton motive force to the extent that three to four protons could be translocated out of the cells per reaction. Remarkably, an apparent proton translocation stoichiometry of three held for cells that had been grown at pH2<0.12 bar, whilst the number was four for cells grown above that concentration. The shift occurred within a narrow pH2 span around 0.12 bar. The findings suggest that the methanogens regulate the bioenergetic machinery involved in CoM-S-S-CoB reduction and proton pumping in response to the environmental hydrogen concentrations.

Distribution of folates and modified folates in extremely thermophilic bacteria

Analyses were made of the structures and levels of folates and modified folates present in extremely thermophilic bacteria. These procedures involved the chemical analysis of products resulting from the oxidative cleavage of the 6-substituted, folatelike tetrahydropterins present in the cells. Air-oxidized cell extracts of extreme thermophiles from two members of the archaebacterial order Thermococcales, Thermococcus celer and Pyrococcus furiosus, contained only 7-methylpterin, indicating that these cells contain a modified folate with a methylated pterin. Cell extracts also contained 6-acetyl-7-methyl-7,8-dihydropterin, another product derived from the oxidative cleavage of a dimethylated folate, demonstrating that both the C-7 and C-9 carbons of the pterin were methylated. Extracts, however, contained neither p-aminobenzoylpolyglutamates nor methaniline, the oxidative cleavage products of folates and methanopterin, respectively, indicating that they contain a previously undescribed C1 carrier(s). On the basis of the level of the 7-methylpterin isolated, the levels of modified folate were 2 to 10 times higher than those typically found in mesophilic bacteria and 10 to 100 times less than the level of methanopterin found in the methanogenic bacteria. Oxidized cell extracts of Sulfolobus spp. of the archaebacterial order Sulfolobales contained only pterin, and, like members of the order Thermococcales, they contained neither-p-aminobenzoylpolyglutamates nor methaniline. Oxidized cell extracts of the extreme thermophiles Pyrobaculum sp. strain H10 and Pyrodictium occultum, from the archaebacterial orders Thermoproteales and Pyrodictiales, respectively, and Thermotoga maritima from the eubacterial order Thermotogales, contained pterin and p-aminobenzoylpolyglutamates, indicating that these cells contained unmodified folates. The levels of p-aminobenzoylpolyglutamates in these archaebacterial cell extracts indicate that the folates were present in the cells at levels 4 to 10 times higher than generally found in those mesophilic eubacteria which do not folates in energy metabolism. The levels and chain lengths of the of p-aminobenzoylpolyglutamates present in Thermotoga maritima were typical of those found in mesophilic eubacteria.

Methanogenesis involving a novel carrier of C1 compounds in Methanogenium tationis

The pathway of CO2 reduction to methane in Methanogenium tationis and Methanogenium thermophilicum is similar to that observed in other methanogens. In M. tationis a novel pterin, tatiopterin, is present. This pterin appears to be a structural and functional analog of methanopterin and sarcinapterin. Folate could not substitute for tatiopterin.

Sodium, protons, and energy coupling in the methanogenic bacteria

In this review, I focus on the bioenergetics of the methanogenic bacteria, with particular attention directed to the roles of transmembrane electrochemical gradients of sodium and proton. In addition, the mechanism of coupling ATP synthesis to methanogenic electron transfer is addressed. Evidence is reviewed which suggests that the methanogens possess great diversity in their bioenergetic machinery. In particular, in some methanogens the primary ion which is translocated coupled to metabolic energy is the proton, while others appear to utilize sodium. In addition, ATP synthesis driven by methanogenic electron transfer is accomplished in some organisms by a chemiosmotic mechanism and is coupled by a more direct mechanism in others. A possible explanation for this diversity (which is consistent with the relatedness of these organisms to each other and to other members of the Archaebacteria as determined by molecular biological techniques) is discussed.

Structural diversity among methanofurans from different methanogenic bacteria

An examination of the methanofurans isolated from a wide range of methanogenic bacteria and from Archaeoglobus fulgidus has revealed at least five chromatographically distinct methanofurans. Bacteria from each major genus of methanogenic bacteria have been found to contain a chemically different methanofuran. The nature of the differences in the methanofurans appears to lie in the modification of the side chain attached to the basic core structure of 4-[N-(gamma-L-glutamyl-gamma-L-glutamyl)-p-(beta-aminoethyl)phenoxyme thy l]-2-(amino-methyl)furan. This was supported by the structural elucidation of the methanofuran isolated from Methanobrevibacter smithii, designated methanofuran-c, which was the same as the originally characterized methanofuran except for a hydroxy group at the 2 position of the 4,5-dicarboxyoctanedioic acid moiety of the molecule.

Folic acid and pteroylpolyglutamate contents of archaebacteria

Cell extracts of methanogens and the thermoacidophile Sulfolobus solfataricus contained little or no folic acid (pteroylglutamate) or pteroylpolyglutamate activity (less than 0.1 nmol/g [dry weight]). However, the halophile Halobacterium salinarum contained pteroylmono- or pteroyldiglutamates, and Halobacterium volcanii and Halobacterium halobium contained pteroyltriglutamates at levels equivalent to those in eubacteria (greater than 1 nmol/g [dry weight]).

Changes in oxidation reduction potentials and volatile fatty acid production by rumen bacteria when methane synthesis is inhibited

Rumen inoculum was cultured in specially designed fermenters that allowed simultaneous measurement of pH, oxidation-reduction potentials, and gas production. The cultures were maintained at pH 6.8 by addition of 1 M NaHCO3 and continuous infusion of artificial saliva. Gas flow was maintained at 20.0 ml/min with a stream of O2-free N2. Monensin at 7.0 micrograms/ml inhibited CH4 production 49% below control concentrations. The sodium salt of 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid added at an initial concentration of 5 x 10(-5) M inhibited CH4 production by 86% and increased H2 production from less than .5 mumol/min in the control to 24.5 mumol/min in the inhibited fermenter. The redox potentials in the control fermenter remained above -.20 V and did not change with the addition of monensin. Bromoethanesulfonic acid rapidly decreased the redox potential in the fermenter to -.33 V. Volatile fatty acid production was not significantly altered by the addition of 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid. The addition of monensin gave the expected decrease in acetate:propionate ratios, decreased acetate and butyrate production, and increased valerate (but not propionate) production.

Structure of a methanofuran derivative found in cell extracts of Methanosarcina barkeri

Cell extracts prepared from cells of Methanosarcina barkeri grown on hydrogen and carbon dioxide, acetate, or methanol contain a coenzyme structurally related to methanofuran. This modified coenzyme was highly purified and its structure assigned as 4-[N-(gamma-L-glutamyl-gamma-L-glutamyl-gamma-L-glutamyl-gamma-L-glutamy l)-p- (beta-amino-ethyl)phenoxymethyl]-2-(aminomethyl)furan. The key structural evidence was obtained by high-resolution fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Quantitative analysis of the hydrolytic fragments of the coenzyme supported the assigned structure. We propose that this coenzyme be called methanofuran-b.