@article {669, title = {Identification of methyl coenzyme M as an intermediate in methanogenesis from acetate in Methanosarcina spp.}, journal = {J Bacteriol}, volume = {160}, year = {1984}, month = {1984 Nov}, pages = {521-5}, abstract = {The transfer of the methyl group of acetate to coenzyme M (2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid; HS-CoM) during the metabolism of acetate to methane was investigated in cultures of Methanosarcina strain TM-1. The organism metabolized CD3COO- to 83\% CD3H and 17\% CD2H2 and produced no CDH3 or CH4. The isotopic composition of coenzyme M in cells grown on CD3COO- was analyzed with a novel gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique. The cells contained CD3-D-CoM and CD2H-S-CoM) in a proportion similar to that of CD3H to CD2H2. These results, in conjunction with a report (J.K. Nelson and J.G. Ferry, J. Bacteriol. 160:526-532, 1984) that extracts of acetate-grown strain TM-1 contain high levels of CH3-S-CoM methylreductase, indicate that CH3-S-CoM is an intermediate in the metabolism of acetate to methane in this organism.}, keywords = {Acetates, Deuterium, Euryarchaeota, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Mercaptoethanol, Mesna, Methane, Methylation}, issn = {0021-9193}, author = {Lovley, D R and White, R H and Ferry, J G} }