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Published May 5, 1995 | public
Book Section - Chapter

Metals and Microbiology: The Influence of Copper on Methane Oxidation

Abstract

Methane is oxidized under aerobic conditions by a group of bacteria called methanotrophs. These widespread bacteria play an important role in the global cycling of methane. Two types of methane oxidation systems are known, a ubiquitous particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) and a cytoplasmic soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) found in only a few strains. These enzymes have different catalytic characteristics, and so it is important to know the conditions under which each is expressed. In those strains containing both sMMO and pMMO, the available copper concentration controls which enzyme is expressed. However, the activity of the pMMO is also affected by copper. Data on methane oxidation in natural samples suggest that methanotrophs are not copper-limited in nature and express the pMMO predominantly.

Additional Information

© 1995 American Chemical Society. Received for review October 23, 1992. Accepted revised manuscript May 4, 1993. Published in print 5 May 1995. This work was supported by grants from Advanced Research Projects Administration (ARPA) (N0001492J1901) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) (N00014-91-J-1899).

Additional details

Created:
August 20, 2023
Modified:
January 14, 2024