title: More than 200 genes required for methane formation from H₂ and CO₂ and energy conservation are present in Methanothermobacter marburgensis and Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus.
abstract: The hydrogenotrophic methanogens Methanothermobacter marburgensis and Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus can easily be mass cultured. They have therefore been used almost exclusively to study the biochemistry of methanogenesis from H₂ and CO₂, and the genomes of these two model organisms have been sequenced. The close relationship of the two organisms is reflected in their genomic architecture and coding potential. Within the 1,607 protein coding sequences (CDS) in common, we identified approximately 200 CDS required for the synthesis of the enzymes, coenzymes, and prosthetic groups involved in CO₂ reduction to methane and in coupling this process with the phosphorylation of ADP. Approximately 20 additional genes, such as those for the biosynthesis of F(430) and methanofuran and for the posttranslational modifications of the two methyl-coenzyme M reductases, remain to be identified.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne-Kristin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kaster
authors.forename: Meike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goenrich
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seedorf
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liesegang
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wollherr
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gottschalk
authors.forename: Rudolf K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Thauer
mesh_terms: D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000235:genetics*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D019766:Genes, Archaeal; D020745:Genome, Archaeal; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008697:Methane / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017013:Methanobacteriaceae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D026801:Synteny
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D008697:Methane