Potassium accumulation in growing Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum and its relation to the electrochemical proton gradient

Cultures of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (Marburg) growing on media low in potassium accumulated the cation up to a maximal concentration gradient ([K⁺]_{intracellular}/[K⁺]_{extracellular}) of approximately 50,000-fold. Under these conditions, the membrane potential was determined by measuring the equilibrium distribution of the lipophilic cation (¹⁴C) tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP⁺). This cation was accumulated by the cells 350-to 1,000-fold corresponding to a membrane potential (inside negative) of 170–200 mV. The pH gradient, as measured by equilibrium distribution of the weak acid, benzoic acid, was found to be lower than 0.1 pH units (extracellular pH=6.8). The addition of valinomycin (0.5–1 nmol/mg cells) to the culture reduced the maximal concentration gradient of potassium from 50,000-to approximately 500-fold, without changing the membrane potential. After dissipation of the membrane potential by the addition of ¹²C-TTP⁺ (2 mol/mg cells) or tetrachlorosalicylanilide (3 nmol/mg cells), a rapid and complete efflux of potassium was observed.These data indicate that potassium accumulation in the absence of valinomycin is not in equilibrium with the membrane potential. It is concluded that at low extracellular K⁺ concentrations potassium is not accumulated by M. thermoautotrophicum via an electrogenic uniport mechanism.Non-common abbreviations TPP⁺ Tetra phenylphosphonium bromide - DTE Dithioerythritol - TCS 3,5,3,4-Tetrachlorosalycylanilide     

The amino acid sequence of the peptide moiety of the pseudomurein from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

The amino acid sequence of the peptide subunits of the peptide moiety of the sacculus polymer (pseudomurein) of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum was elucidated by analysing overlapping peptides obtained from partial acid hydrolysates of isolated sacculi. It is suggested that the peptide subunits are attached to glycan strands via one of their glutamyl residues. Another glutamyl residue may crosslink two adjacent peptide subunits to form a dimer. The calculated molar ratios of the amino acids and the percentages of the N-or C-terminal amino acid residues of the supposed dimers are compatible with those actually found in the sacculus polymer.     

Nickel,cobalt, and molybdenum requirement for growth of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

Growth of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum on H₂ and CO₂ as sole energy and carbon sources was found to be dependent on Ni, Co, and Mo. At low concentrations of Ni (<100 nM), Co (<10 nM) and Mo (<10 nM) the amount of cells formed was roughly proportional to the amount of transition metal added to the medium; for the formation of 1 g cells (dry weight) approximately 150 nmol NiCl₂, 20 nmol CoCl₂ and 20 nmol Na₂MoO₄ were required. A dependence of growth on Cu, Mn, Zn, Ca, Al, and B could not be demonstrated. Conditions are described under which the bacterium grew exponentially with a doubling time of 1.8 h up to a cell density of 2 g cells (dry weight)/1.     

Solution structure of ribosomal protein S28E from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

The ribosomal protein S28E from the archaeon Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum is a component of the 30S ribosomal subunit. Sequence homologs of S28E are found only in archaea and eukaryotes. Here we report the three-dimensional solution structure of S28E by NMR spectroscopy. S28E contains a globular region and a long C-terminal tail protruding from the core. The globular region consists of four antiparallel beta-strands that are arranged in a Greek-key topology. Unique features of S28E include an extended loop L2-3 that folds back onto the protein and a 12-residue charged C-terminal tail with no regular secondary structure and greater flexibility relative to the rest of the protein. The structural and surface resemblance to OB-fold family of proteins and the presence of highly conserved basic residues suggest that S28E may bind to RNA. A broad positively charged surface extending over one side of the beta-barrel and into the flexible C terminus may present a putative binding site for RNA.     

Sodium dependence of growth and methane formation in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum was found to require sodium for growth and for CO₂ reduction to methane. The dependence of the rate of growth and methane formation on the sodium concentration was hyperbolic with an apparent K _s for sodium of approximately 1 mM. The findings indicate that sodium has a specific function in the energy metabolism of this bacterium.     

Function of coenzyme F420-dependent NADP reductase in methanogenic archaea containing an NADP-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase

Methanogenic archaea growing on ethanol or isopropanol as the electron donor for CO₂ reduction to CH₄ contain either an NADP-dependent or a coenzyme F₄₂₀-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase. We report here that in both groups of methanogens, the N ⁵, N ¹⁰-methylenetetrahydromethanopterin dehydrogenase and the N ⁵, N ¹⁰-methylenetetrahydromethanopterin reductase, two enzymes involved in CO₂ reduction to CH₄, are specific for F₄₂₀. This raised the question how F₄₂₀H₂ is regenerated in the methanogens with an NADP-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase. We found that these organisms contain catabolic activities of an enzyme catalyzing the reduction of F₄₂₀ with NADPH. The F₄₂₀-dependent NADP reductase from Methanogenium organophilum was purified and characterized. The N-terminal amino acid sequence showed 42% sequence identity to a putative gene product in Methanococcus jannaschii, the total genome of which has recently been sequenced. Received: 12 May 1997 / Accepted: 1 July 1997     

Two malate dehydrogenases in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (strain Marburg) was found to contain two malate dehydrogenases, which were partially purified and characterized. One was specific for NAD⁺ and catalyzed the dehydrogenation of malate at approximately one-third of the rate of oxalacetate reduction, and the other could equally well use NAD⁺ and NADP⁺ as coenzyme and catalyzed essentially only the reduction of oxalacetate. Via the N-terminal amino acid sequences, the encoding genes were identified in the genome of M. thermoautotrophicum (strain ΔH). Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences revealed that the two malate dehydrogenases are phylogenetically only distantly related. The NAD⁺-specific malate dehydrogenase showed high sequence similarity to l-malate dehydrogenase from Methanothermus fervidus, and the NAD(P)⁺-using malate dehyrogenase showed high sequence similarity to l-lactate dehydrogenase from Thermotoga maritima and l-malate dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis. A function of the two malate dehydrogenases in NADPH:NAD⁺ transhydrogenation is discussed. Received: 29 December 1997 / Accepted: 4 March 1998