Environmental and Genetic Rhythm Governing the Production of Methanobactin

Abstract

Methanobactin is a peptide-derived, copper-binding molecule that is produced by methanotrophic bacteria. Methanobactins scavenge and reduce copper (II) ions to provide copper as an enzymatic co-factor for particulate methane mono-oxygenase (pMMO), which converts methane to methanol. pMMO requires copper ions. Methanotrophs synthesize methanobactin for the purpose of scavenging copper ions from the environment to meet this needs for this enzyme. Recently, the mapping of the genome of Methylosinus trichosporium OB[subscript]3b has revealed that the methanobactin produced by this methanotroph (mb-OB[subscript]3b is derived from a ribsomally-produced peptide. The purpose of this study was to report an ongoing experiment designed to elucidate the role of methanobactin in the physiological pathways of M. trichosporium OB[subscript]3b.