Open Access5,6,7,8‐Tetrahydromethanopterin‐dependent enzymes involved in methanogenesis
Author(s) -
Keltjens Jan T.,
Brömmelstroet Ben W.,
Kengen ServéW.M.,
Drift Chris,
Vogels Godfried D.
Publication year - 1990
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.1574-6968.1990.tb04932.x
Subject(s) - methanogenesis , chemistry , enzyme , biochemistry , organic chemistry , methane
In the process of methanogenesis, 5,6,7,8‐tetrahydromethanopterin (H 4 MPT) is the carrier of the C 1 unit at the formyl through methyl state of reduction. By the transfer of a formyl group from formylmethanofuran, 5‐formyl‐ and 10‐formyl‐H 4 MPT are formed in hydrogenotrophic and methylotrophic organisms, respectively. Cyclohydrolysis of the 5‐ and 10‐formyl derivatives then yields 5,10‐methenyl‐H 4 MPT, which is reduced in two subsequent coenzyme F 420 ‐dependent reactions to 5‐methyl‐H 4 MPT. Following the transfer of the methyl group to coenzyme M, the substrate of the terminal step in methanogenesis, methylcoenzyme M, is produced. In this paper properties of the enzymes catalyzing the individual H 4 MPT‐dependent reactions are discussed.