Abstract

Rumen bacteria retained methanogenic activity when stored at −60° under H 2. This activity, which resides in Methanobacterium ruminantium and Methanobacterium mobilis , is not lost when the cells are broken, as has been suggested. Unlike in Methanosarcina barkerii and Methanobacterium M.o.H. , in rumen bacteria methanogenic enzymes are not soluble but readily precipitated at 15,000 g. Methane was synthesized from tetrahydrofolate derivatives but at slower rates than from CO 2. From the data, it was not possible to determine if methyl- and methylene tetrahydrofolate were oxidized to CO 2 prior to reduction to CH 4. In room light, CH 3-B 12 was reduced to CH 4 non-enzymatically in the presence of protein. When the reactions were carried out in the dark, very little CH 4 was formed from CH 3-B 12 by rumen bacterial enzymes. The cell-free particulate fraction did not require added ATP for methanogenesis but showed an absolute requirement for H 2.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.