Open AccessIdentification and biosynthesis of 2-(1H-imidazol-5-yl) ethan-1-ol (histaminol) in methanogenic archaea
Author(s) -
Rebecca Portugal,
Nana Shao,
William B. Whitman,
Kylie Allen,
Robert H. White
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.352
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1465-2080
pISSN - 1350-0872
DOI - 10.1099/mic.0.000779
Subject(s) - methanococcus , methanogen , archaea , histidine , biosynthesis , biochemistry , metabolite , metabolism , euryarchaeota , biology , chemistry , bacteria , gene , amino acid , genetics
Histaminol is a relatively rare metabolite most commonly resulting from histidine metabolism. Here we describe histaminol production and secretion into the culture broth by the methanogen Methanococcus maripaludis S2 as well as a number of other methanogens. This work is the first identification of this compound as a natural product in methanogens. Its biosynthesis from histidine was confirmed by the incorporation of 2 H3-histidine into histaminol by growing cells of M. maripaludis S2. Possible functions of this molecule could be cell signaling as observed with histamine in eukaryotes or uptake of metal ions.