Methane formation from methanol and molecular hydrogen by protoplasts of new methanogenic isolates and inhibition by dicyckohexylcarbodiimide

Protoplasts have been prepared by pronase treatment of cells of two as yet unidentified methanogenic species, strains Gö1 and AJ2. The rate in which these protoplasts formed methane from methanol and molecular hydrogen amounted to 55% (strain Gö1) or 18% (strain AJ2) of the rate of whole cells. Cell extracts, however, had lost most of the activity, and the rate was only 3.6% of the one of whole cells. Methanogenesis by protoplasts from the above mentioned substrates was inhibited by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and this inhibition could be abolished by the protonophore tetrachlorosalicylanilide.