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X‐Ray Structure Analysis of Methane Monooxygenase: An Important Step toward Understanding the Oxidation of Methane in Biological Systems
Author(s) -
Krebs Bernt,
Sträter Norbert
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition in english
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 0570-0833
DOI - 10.1002/anie.199408411
Subject(s) - methane monooxygenase , methane , anaerobic oxidation of methane , methanol , monooxygenase , chemistry , environmental chemistry , bacteria , biochemical engineering , organic chemistry , enzyme , biology , cytochrome p450 , engineering , genetics
Immense ecological and technical importance is enjoyed by methanotrophic bacteria, which can oxidize hydrocarbons to CO 2 . The key to understanding the mode of action of the enzyme methane monooxygenase is held by the research groups of S. J. Lippard and P. Nordlund, who unraveled the structure of the active site. The processes in the oxidation of methane by air to form methanol under physiological conditions [Eq. (a)] will perhaps soon be elucidated on a molecular level.