Bioenergetics of methanogenesis from acetate by Methanosarcina barkeri.

Methane formation from acetate by resting cells of Methanosarcina barkeri was accompanied by an increase in the intracellular ATP content from 0.9 to 4.0 nmol/mg of protein. Correspondingly, the proton motive force increased to a steady-state level of -120 mV. The transmembrane pH gradient however, was reversed under these conditions and amounted to +20 mV. The addition of the protonophore 3,5,3',4'-tetrachlorosalicylanilide led to a drastic decrease in the proton motive force and in the intracellular ATP content and to an inhibition of methane formation. The ATPase inhibitor N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide stopped methanogenesis, and the intracellular ATP content decreased. The proton motive force decreased also under these conditions, indicating that the proton motive force could not be generated from acetate without ATP. The overall process of methane formation from acetate was dependent on the presence of sodium ions; upon addition of acetate to cell suspensions of M. barkeri, a transmembrane Na+ gradient in the range of 4:1 (Na+ out/Na+ in) was established. Possible sites of involvement of the Na+ gradient in the conversion of acetate to methane and carbon dioxide are discussed. Na+ is not involved in the CO dehydrogenase reaction.     

Targeting of lysosomal acid phosphatase with altered carbohydrate

Human lysosomal acid phosphatase is transported as a transmembrane protein to lysosomes, where it is converted into a soluble protein by a limited proteolysis (Waheed et al., 1988, EMBO J. 7, 2351-2358). Transport of human lysosomal acid phosphatase in heterologous BHK-21 cells was examined under conditions that impair mannose-6-phosphate receptor-dependent transport, N-glycosylation or processing of N-linked oligosaccharides. Targeting of lysosomal acid phosphatase to lysosomes was neither affected by antibodies blocking the mannose-6-phosphate/IGF II receptor, nor by NH4Cl, which inhibited the mannose-6-phosphate receptor-dependent targeting of soluble lysosomal enzymes. 1-Deoxynojirimycin, 1-deoxymannojirimycin and swainsonine inhibited processing of N-linked oligosaccharides in lysosomal acid phosphatase without significantly affecting its transport. Tunicamycin inhibited N-glycosylation of lysosomal acid phosphatase. The non-glycosylated lysosomal acid phosphatase polypeptides accumulated within light membranes and were not transported to dense lysosomes. These results indicate that transport of lysosomal acid phosphatase is independent of mannose-6-phosphate receptors, does not involve an acid pH-dependent step and does not require processing of N-linked oligosaccharides. N-glycosylation appears to be necessary to achieve a transport competent form of lysosomal acid phosphatase.     

Distribution of the ability for citrate utilization amongst Clostridia

44 species of the genus Clostridium were examined with regard to their ability to grow on citrate. In addition to Clostridium sphenoides, a known citrate utilizer, the following species were found to utilize citrate: C. sporosphaeroides, C. symbiosum, C. rectum, C. indolis, C. subterminale and C. sporogenes. The major products formed from citrate were acetate, ethanol and carbon dioxide (not measured). Minor products were butyrate, butanol, acetone and acetoin.The enzyme citrate lyase was detectable in cell extracts of C. sporosphaeroides and C. symbiosum using an optical assay. Evidence for the presence of this enzyme in the other species was obtained in immunological experiments and in experiments with [1,5-¹⁴C]citrate.     

Protonmotive force-driven synthesis of ATP during methane formation from molecular hydrogen and formaldehyde or carbon dioxide in Methanosarcina barkeri

Abstract Methane formation from formaldehyde and H₂ or from carbon dioxide and H₂, as performed by cell suspensions of Methanosarcina barkeri , was coupled to ATP synthesis. In correspondence with this, methane formation was inhibited by N , N '-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), which at the same time, caused a decrease of the intracellular ATP concentration but only a slow decrease of the membrane potential. Addition of the uncoupler tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS) led to a relief of the inhibition of methane formation from CH₂O + H₂, but not from CO₂+ H₂.     

Enumeration of bacteria forming acetate from H2 and CO2 in anaerobic habitats

A method has been worked out that allows the detection and isolation of bacteria fermenting molecular hydrogen and carbon dioxide to acetic acid.The ratio of methanogenic to acetogenic bacteria in sludge and lake sediment samples has been found to be approximately 100 to 1. Acetogenic bacteria could not be detected in rumen samples.