ATP activation and properties of the methyl coenzyme M reductase system in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

The requirement of ATP for the methyl coenzyme M methylreductase in extracts of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum was found to be catalytic; for each mol of ATP added, 15 mol of methane was produced from methyl coenzyme M [2-(methylthio)ethanesulfonic acid]. Other nucleotide triphosphates partially replaced ATP in activation of the reductase. All components of the reaction were found in the supernatant fraction of cell extracts after centrifugation at 100,000 X g for 1 h; optimal reaction rates occurred at 65 degrees C, at a pH range of 5.6 to 6.0, and at concentrations of ATP and MgCl2 of 1 mM and 40 mM, respectively. Chloral hydrate, chloroform, nitrite, 2,4-dinitrophenol, and viologen dyes (compounds known to inhibit methanogenesis from a variety of substrates) were found to inhibit the conversion of methyl coenzyme M to methane. Methyl coenzyme M methylreductase was shown to be present in a variety of methanogens.