Characterization of F390 synthetase activity in cell extracts of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum Marburg
The F390 synthetase activity in cell extracts of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum Marburg increased by two times upon preincubation at 37 °C with its substrates, ATP (or GTP) and coenzyme F420, but not with either of these compounds alone. In the 0–37 °C range, preincubation at 37 °C gave maximal enhancement in activity. F390 synthetase activity in cell extracts of strain Marburg was maximal at 45 °C, whereas F390 synthetase from M. thermoautotrophicum ΔH had maximal activity at 55 °C; both strains grew optimally at 65 °C. Data derived from the Arrhenius plot supported our earlier conclusion that the F390 synthetase activity of strain Marburg could lead to a loss of 70% of the available F420 during extraction of this factor from cells via an aerobic cell extract procedure even if the temperature was maintained at 4 °C.Key words: Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, F390 synthetase, activation, coenzyme F420