Wayne A. Froland

Oxygenation by Methane Monooxygenase: Oxygen Activation and Component Interactions

Methanotrophic bacteria possess the unique ability to utilize methane as the sole source of carbon and energy. Indeed, methane is the only carbon source capable of sustaining vigorous and long term growth of these organisms1. The methanolytic activity of methanotrophs can be ascribed to the elaboration of a unique enzyme, methane monooxygenase2 (MMO), which catalyzes the following reaction:

Crystal structure of the hydroxylase component of methane monooxygenase from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b.

Methane + {O_2} + NADH + {H^ + } \to NA{D^ + } + {H_2}O + Methanol