title: Characterization of a CO-dependent O-demethylating enzyme system from the acetogen Clostridium thermoaceticum.
abstract: An inducible O-demethylating enzyme system was characterized from Clostridium thermoaceticum cultivated at the expense of syringate. Glucose and methanol, but not CO, partially repressed its expression. Induced whole cells catalyzed the carbon monoxide (CO)-dependent O demethylation of methoxylated aromatic compounds with the concomitant formation of acetate. Pyruvate and, to a lesser extent, H2-CO2 could replace CO in these reactions. KCN inhibited pyruvate-dependent activity but not the CO-dependent activity. The ATPase inhibitor N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, the protonophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, and methyl viologen did not appreciably inhibit O demethylation by induced cells, whereas Triton X-100 was inhibitory. The enzyme system appeared to convert syringate sequentially to 5-hydroxyvanillate and gallate. The proposed overall reaction stoichiometry was as follows: syringate + 2CO + 2H2O----gallate + 2 acetates. Growth-supportive methoxylated aromatic compounds were O demethylated by syringate-cultivated cells and inhibitory to syringate O demethylation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University 38677.
authors.forename: Z R
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Drake
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003013:Clostridium / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010090:Oxidoreductases, O-Demethylating / Q000378:metabolism*; D011190:Potassium Cyanide / Q000494:pharmacology; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014641:Vanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D005707:Gallic Acid; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; C001945:syringic acid; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D010090:Oxidoreductases, O-Demethylating; D014641:Vanillic Acid; D011190:Potassium Cyanide