title: Localization of Methyl-Coenzyme M reductase as metabolic marker for diverse methanogenic Archaea.
abstract: Methyl-Coenzyme M reductase (MCR) as key enzyme for methanogenesis as well as for anaerobic oxidation of methane represents an important metabolic marker for both processes in microbial biofilms. Here, the potential of MCR-specific polyclonal antibodies as metabolic marker in various methanogenic Archaea is shown. For standard growth conditions in laboratory culture, the cytoplasmic localization of the enzyme in Methanothermobacter marburgensis, Methanothermobacter wolfei, Methanococcus maripaludis, Methanosarcina mazei, and in anaerobically methane-oxidizing biofilms is demonstrated. Under growth limiting conditions on nickel-depleted media, at low linear growth of cultures, a fraction of 50-70% of the enzyme was localized close to the cytoplasmic membrane, which implies "facultative" membrane association of the enzyme. This feature may be also useful for assessment of growth-limiting conditions in microbial biofilms.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Grisebachstraße 8, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wrede
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Walbaum
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ducki
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Heieren
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoppert
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D001105:Archaea / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C021572:methyl coenzyme M reductase; D008697:Methane