PMID: 11607473May 10, 1994Paper

Ion transport and methane production in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
F D SauerJ K Kramer

Abstract

In Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, the protonmotive force for the H+-translocating ATPase consists mainly of a transmembrane electrical gradient (Deltapsi). These cells do not establish a significant transmembrane pH gradient (inside alkaline) and, in fact, if the suspending medium is of pH >/= 7.0, the pH gradient may be reversed-i.e., inside acid with respect to the extracellular pH. These studies show by both 23Na NMR and 22Na+ distribution that Na+ extrusion with the generation of Deltapsi precedes methanogenesis in Mb. thermoautotrophicum. It is calculated that the newly established Na+ gradients increase Deltapsi by approximately 50 mV (inside negative). There is no detectable H+ extrusion during methane synthesis; instead there is a high rate of H+ consumption for methane synthesis and an increase in internal pH. This was supported by 31P NMR experiments, which showed an internal pH shift from 6.8 to 7.6. With the cells maintained at an external pH of 7.2, the initial transmembrane pH gradient of -0.4 (inside acid) at 60 degrees C is equivalent to Deltapsi of + 27 mV (inside positive); after 20 min of incubation, the transmembrane pH gradient is + 0.4 (inside alkaline), which at 60 degrees C is equivalent to Deltap...Continue Reading

References

Dec 29, 1978·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·D O Mountfort
Jul 1, 1981·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Y Nozaki, C Tanford
Jan 1, 1983·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·D W Deamer, J W Nichols
Dec 1, 1990·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·U DeppenmeierG Gottschalk

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