Methane Biosynthesis
Methanogenesis or biomethanation is the formation of methane coupled to energy conservation by microbes known as methanogens. It is the fourth and final stage of anaerobic digestion. Organisms capable of producing methane for energy conservation have been identified only from the domain Archaea, a group phylogenetically distinct from both eukaryotes and bacteria, although many live in close association with anaerobic bacteria. The production of methane is an important and widespread form of microbial metabolism. In anoxic environments, it is the final step in the decomposition of biomass. Methanogenesis is responsible for significant amounts of natural gas accumulations, the remainder being thermogenic. Biochemistry Methanogenesis in microbes is a form of anaerobic respiration. Methanogens do not use oxygen to respire; in fact, oxygen inhibits the growth of methanogens. The terminal electron acceptor in methanogenesis is not oxygen, but carbon. The two best described pathways i ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Methane
Methane ( , ) is a chemical compound with the chemical formula (one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms). It is a group-14 hydride, the simplest alkane, and the main constituent of natural gas. The abundance of methane on Earth makes it an economically attractive fuel, although capturing and storing it is difficult because it is a gas at standard temperature and pressure. In the Earth's atmosphere methane is transparent to visible light but absorbs infrared radiation, acting as a greenhouse gas. Methane is an Organic chemistry, organic Organic compound, compound, and among the simplest of organic compounds. Methane is also a hydrocarbon. Naturally occurring methane is found both below ground and under the seafloor and is formed by both geological and biological processes. The largest reservoir of methane is under the seafloor in the form of methane clathrates. When methane reaches the surface and the Atmosphere of Earth, atmosphere, it is known as atmospheric methane. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalent bond, covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in a gas state at room temperature and at normally-encountered concentrations it is odorless. As the source of carbon in the carbon cycle, atmospheric is the primary carbon source for life on Earth. In the air, carbon dioxide is transparent to visible light but absorbs infrared, infrared radiation, acting as a greenhouse gas. Carbon dioxide is soluble in water and is found in groundwater, lakes, ice caps, and seawater. It is a trace gas Carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere, in Earth's atmosphere at 421 parts per million (ppm), or about 0.042% (as of May 2022) having risen from pre-industrial levels of 280 ppm or about 0.028%. Burning fossil fuels is the main cause of these increased concentrations, which are the primary cause of climate change.IPCC (2022Summary for pol ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Methanopterin
Tetrahydromethanopterin (THMPT, ) is a coenzyme in methanogenesis. It is the carrier of the C1 group as it is reduced to the methyl level, before transferring to the coenzyme M. Tetrahydrosarcinapterin (THSPT, ) is a modified form of THMPT, wherein a glutamyl group linked to the 2-hydroxyglutaric acid terminus. THMPT is the main platform for C1 transformations N-Formylmethanofuran donates the C1 group to the N5 site of the pterin to give the formyl- THMPT. The formyl group subsequently condenses intramolecularly to give methenyl-, which is then reduced to methylene-THMPT by 5,10-methenyl- hydrogenase with as the electron donor. Methylene- MPT is subsequently converted, using coenzyme F420 as the electron source, to methyl-THMPT, catalyzed by F420-dependent methylene-THMPT reductase. Methyl-THMPT is the methyl donor to coenzyme M, a conversion mediated by methyl-THMPT: coenzyme M methyltransferase. Comparison with tetrahydrofolic acid THMPT is related to the better ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Methanofuran
Methanofurans (MFRs) are a family of chemical compounds found in methanogenic archaea. These species feature a 2-aminomethylfuran linked to phenoxy group. At least three different end groups are recognized: R = tricarboxyheptanoyl (methanofuran), glutamyl-glutamyl (methanofuran b), tricarboxy-2-hydroxyheptanoyl (methanofuran c, see picture). Formylation of MFR Methanofuran converts to formylmethanofuran in an early stage of methanogenesis. The enzyme formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase ( EC: 1.2.99.5) formylates methanofuran using , the primary C1 source in methanogenesis. Deformylation of MFR The enzyme formylmethanofuran:tetrahydromethanopterin formyltransferase catalyzes the transfer of the formyl group from formylmethanofuran to N5 on tetrahydromethanopterin, . This enzyme has been crystallized; it contains no prosthetic group A prosthetic group is the non-amino acid component that is part of the structure of the heteroproteins or conjugated proteins, being tightly l ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Coenzyme M
Coenzyme M is a coenzyme required for methyl-transfer reactions in the metabolism of archaeal methanogens, and in the metabolism of other substrates in bacteria. It is also a necessary cofactor in the metabolic pathway of alkene-oxidizing bacteria. CoM helps eliminate the toxic epoxides formed from the oxidation of alkenes such as propylene. The structure of this coenzyme was discovered by CD Taylor and RS Wolfe in 1974 while they were studying methanogenesis, the process by which carbon dioxide is transformed into methane in some archaea. The coenzyme is an anion with the formula . It is named 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate and abbreviated HS–CoM. The cation is unimportant, but the sodium salt is most available. Mercaptoethanesulfonate contains both a thiol, which is the main site of reactivity, and a sulfonate group, which confers solubility in aqueous media. Biochemical role Methanogenesis The coenzyme is the C1 donor in methanogenesis. It is converted to methyl-coenzyme ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Coenzyme B
Coenzyme B is a coenzyme required for redox reactions in methanogens. The full chemical name of coenzyme B is 7-mercaptoheptanoylthreoninephosphate. The molecule contains a thiol, which is its principal site of reaction. Coenzyme B reacts with 2-methylthioethanesulfonate (methyl-Coenzyme M, abbreviated ), to release methane in methanogenesis: : + HS–CoB → + CoB–S–S–CoM This conversion is catalyzed by the enzyme methyl coenzyme M reductase, which contains cofactor F430 as the prosthetic group. A related conversion that utilizes both HS-CoB and HS-CoM is the reduction of fumaric acid, fumarate to succinic acid, succinate, catalysis, catalyzed by fumarate reductase: :HS–CoM + HS–CoB + − → − + CoB–S–S–CoM Importance of coenzyme B in methanogenesis Coenzyme B is an important component in the terminal step of methane biogenesis. It acts as a two electron-donor to reduce coenzyme M (methyl-coenzyme) into two molecules a methane and a heterodisulfide. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Coenzyme F420
Coenzyme F420 is a family of coenzymes involved in redox reactions in a number of bacteria and archaea. It is derived from coenzyme FO (7,8-didemethyl-8-hydroxy-5-deazariboflavin) and differs by having a oligoglutamyl tail attached via a 2-phospho-L-lactate bridge. F420 is so named because it is a flavin derivative with an absorption maximum at 420 nm. F420 was originally discovered in methanogenic archaea and in Actinomycetota (especially in ''Mycobacterium''). It is now known to be used also by Cyanobacteria and by soil Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi and Firmicutes. Eukaryotes including the fruit fly ''Drosophila melanogaster'' and the algae ''Ostreococcus tauri'' also use Coenzyme FO. F420 is structurally similar to FMN, but catalytically it is similar to NAD and NADP: it has low redox potential and always transfer a hydride. As a result, it is not only a versatile cofactor in biochemical reactions, but also being eyed for potential as an industrial catalyst. Similar t ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Methanethiol
Methanethiol (also known as methyl mercaptan) is an organosulfur compound with the chemical formula . It is a colorless gas with a distinctive putrid smell. In small amounts, it is pervasive in nature and found in certain foods, such as some nuts and cheese. It contributes to many odors including the emissions from pulp mills, bad breath, and flatus. Methanethiol is the simplest thiol and is sometimes abbreviated as MeSH. It is flammable. Structure and reactions The molecule is tetrahedral at the carbon atom, like methanol. It is a weak acid, with a p''K''a of ~10.4, but is about a hundred thousand times more acidic than methanol. The colorless salt can be obtained by treatment with sodium methoxide: :CH3SH + CH3ONa → CH3SNa + CH3OH The thiolate anion in sodium methanethiolate is a strong nucleophile. It can be oxidized to dimethyl disulfide: :2CH3SH + → CH3SSCH3 + H2O Further oxidation takes the disulfide to two molecules of methanesulfonic acid, which is odorl ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Dimethyl Sulfide
Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) or methylthiomethane is an organosulfur compound with the formula . It is the simplest thioether and has a characteristic disagreeable odor. It is a flammable liquid that boils at . It is a component of the smell produced from cooking of certain vegetables (notably maize, cabbage, and beetroot) and seafoods. It is also an indication of bacterial contamination in malt production and brewing. It is a breakdown product of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), and is also produced by the bacterial metabolism of methanethiol. Occurrence and production DMS originates primarily from DMSP, a major secondary metabolite in some marine algae. DMS is the most abundant biological sulfur compound emitted to the atmosphere. Emission occurs over the oceans by phytoplankton. DMS is also produced naturally by bacterial transformation of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) waste that is disposed of into sewers, where it can cause environmental odor problems. DMS is oxidized in ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Tetramethylammonium
Tetramethylammonium (TMA) is the simplest quaternary ammonium cation. It has the chemical formula and consists of four methyl groups (, denoted Me) attached to a central nitrogen atom. The cation is isoelectronic with neopentane (). It is positively-charged and can only be isolated in association with a counter-ion. Common salts include tetramethylammonium chloride and tetramethylammonium hydroxide. Tetramethylammonium salts are used in chemical synthesis and in pharmacological research. It confers no color to its salts. Common nomenclature In the toxicological literature, ''naturally occurring'' tetramethylammonium (anion unspecified) is often referred to by the name "tetramine". Unfortunately, this non-systematic or "trivial" name is also used for other chemical entities, including a toxic rodenticide ( Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine). Similarly, the acronym "TMA", which is frequently used for tetramethylammonium in the pharmacological literature, may also refer to the inve ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Methylamines
Methylamine, also known as methanamine, is an organic compound with a formula of . This colorless gas is a derivative of ammonia, but with one hydrogen atom being replaced by a methyl group. It is the simplest primary amine. Methylamine is sold as a solution in methanol, ethanol, tetrahydrofuran, or water, or as the anhydrous gas in pressurized metal containers. Industrially, methylamine is transported in its anhydrous form in pressurized railcars and tank trailers. It has a strong odor similar to rotten fish. Methylamine is used as a building block for the synthesis of numerous other commercially available compounds. Industrial production Methylamine has been produced industrially since the 1920s (originally by Commercial Solvents Corporation for dehairing of animal skins). This was made possible by and his wife Eugenia who discovered amination of alcohols, including methanol, on alumina or kaolin catalyst after WWI, filed two patent applications in 1919 and published an ar ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Methanol
Methanol (also called methyl alcohol and wood spirit, amongst other names) is an organic chemical compound and the simplest aliphatic Alcohol (chemistry), alcohol, with the chemical formula (a methyl group linked to a hydroxyl group, often abbreviated as MeOH). It is a light, Volatility (chemistry), volatile, colorless and flammable liquid with a distinctive alcoholic odor similar to that of ethanol (potable alcohol), but is more acutely toxic than the latter. Methanol acquired the name wood alcohol because it was once produced through destructive distillation of wood. Today, methanol is mainly produced industrially by hydrogenation of carbon monoxide. Methanol consists of a methyl group linked to a polar hydroxyl group. With more than 20 million tons produced annually, it is used as a Precursor (chemistry), precursor to other commodity chemicals, including formaldehyde, acetic acid, methyl tert-butyl ether, methyl ''tert''-butyl ether, methyl benzoate, anisole, peroxyacids, ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |