Abstract
Methanogenesis, the anaerobic production of methane from CO2 or simple carbon compounds, requires seven organic coenzymes. This review describes pathways for the biosynthesis of methanofuran, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydromethanopterin, coenzyme F420, coenzyme M (2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid) and coenzyme B (7-mercaptoheptanoyl-L-threonine phosphate). Spectroscopic evidence for the pathways is reviewed and recent efforts are described to identify and characterize the biosynthetic enzymes from methanogenic archaea. The literature from 1971 to September 2001 is reviewed, and 169 references are cited.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Review
MeSH terms
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Archaea / metabolism
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Carbon Dioxide / metabolism*
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Coenzymes / biosynthesis*
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Diterpenes / chemistry*
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Euryarchaeota / metabolism*
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Furans / chemistry
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Genomics
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Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
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Mesna / chemistry
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Mesna / metabolism
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Methane / metabolism*
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Molecular Structure
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Phosphothreonine / analogs & derivatives
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Phosphothreonine / chemistry
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Phosphothreonine / metabolism
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Pterins / chemistry
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Riboflavin / analogs & derivatives*
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Riboflavin / biosynthesis
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Riboflavin / chemistry
Substances
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Coenzymes
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Diterpenes
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Furans
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Pterins
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7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine phosphate
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Phosphothreonine
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Carbon Dioxide
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coenzyme F420
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methanopterin
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carbon dioxide reduction factor
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Mesna
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Methane
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Riboflavin