Open AccessOxidation of trimethylamine to the level of formaldehyde by Methanosarcina barkeri is dependent on the protonmotive force
Author(s) -
Müller Volker,
Blaut Michael,
Gottschalk Gerhard
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1987.tb02120.x
Subject(s) - methanosarcina barkeri , trimethylamine , methanogenesis , ammonia , formaldehyde , chemistry , methane , carbon dioxide , inorganic chemistry , methanol , methylamines , euryarchaeota , biochemistry , catalysis , organic chemistry , archaea , gene
The conversion of trimethylamine to methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia as catalyzed by cell suspensions of Methanosarcina barkeri was coupled to the generation of a protonmotive force and to the synthesis of ATP. Methanogenesis as well as ATP formation and protonmotive force generation was abolished by the uncoupler tetrachloro‐salicylanilide (TCS). Inhibition of methane formation was reversed by addition of formaldehyde, which was predominantly oxidized to carbon dioxide, whereas trimethylamine was predominantly reduced to methane and ammonia under these conditions. Cell extracts of M. barkeri were unable to convert trimethylamine to methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia independent from the presence or absence of ATP.