SusChEM: Molecular and Structural Dissection of Methyl Coenzyme M Reductase for Methane Production

化学系的生命过程化学项目将资助爱荷华大学的Mishtu Dey教授研究甲基辅酶M还原酶(MCR)的结构和机制。生物甲烷是通过一群名为产甲烷菌的微生物的作用，通过一种名为甲烷生成的过程产生的。产甲烷菌使用简单的一碳和两碳化合物作为底物，利用自然界最迷人的镍酶之一--甲基辅酶M还原酶--形成甲烷。每年大约有10亿吨甲烷是由甲烷生成产生的。鉴于甲烷的相对丰度和清洁燃烧特性，它仍然是一种有吸引力的燃料。另一方面，甲烷也是一种强有力的温室气体。本项目致力于阐明MCR作用机制的具体方面。深入了解MCR机理和产甲烷过程，可以设计减少农业甲烷排放的酶，并为改进生物反应器技术以生产、捕获和储存甲烷作为可持续能源提供基础。该研究计划被整合到一个互动科学项目中，以吸引中学生学习结晶学的艺术。该项目的目标是研究MCR形成甲烷的机制，以及这种全球重要的金属酶中存在的异常翻译后修饰(PTM)的生物合成，这种金属酶负责生物甲烷的产生。在这里，结构和机械的酶学方法被用来研究酶催化的C-杂原子键活化和生物甲基化反应。拟议的研究可能会为生物甲烷的形成机制提供重要的见解，并可能阐明大自然实施不寻常的PTM的策略。从拟议的研究中获得的知识为如何在埋藏的金属酶活性部位的疏水反应室中合成能量丰富的分子(如甲烷)提供了重要的见解。结构-功能的综合研究在生物工程和生物能源/生物燃料工业中有应用。拟议的项目涉及对各级教育的学生进行培训。

With this award, the Chemistry of Life Processes Program in the Division of Chemistry is funding Professor Mishtu Dey of the University of Iowa to study the structure and mechanism of the the enzyme methyl coenzyme M reductase (MCR). Biological methane is produced by a process called methanogenesis through the action of a group of microbes called methanogens. The methanogens use simple one- and two-carbon compounds as substrates to form methane utilizing one of Nature's most fascinating nickel enzymes, methyl coenzyme M reductase. Approximately one billion tons of methane is generated every year by methanogenesis. In view of its relative abundance and clean burning properties, methane continues to be an attractive fuel. On the other hand, methane is also a potent greenhouse gas. This project is focused on elucidating specific aspects of the mechanism of function of MCR. A greater understanding of MCR mechanism and the process of methanogenesis may enable design of enzymes for reducing agricultural methane emissions and provide a basis for improving bioreactor technology to produce, capture, and store methane as a source of sustainable energy. The research plan is integrated into an interactive science project to engage middle school students in the art of crystallography.The objective of this project is to investigate the mechanism of methane formation by MCR and biosynthesis of unusual post-translational modifications (PTMs) present in this globally important metalloenzyme responsible for biological methane production. Here, structural and mechanistic enzymology approaches are used to investigate enzyme-catalyzed C-heteroatom bond activation and biological methylation reactions. The proposed studies may provide important insights into the mechanism of biological methane formation and may illuminate Nature's strategies to carry out unusual PTMs. The knowledge gained from the proposed research offers important insights into how energy-rich molecules, such as methane, are synthesized within the hydrophobic reaction chamber of a buried metalloenzyme active site. The comprehensive structure-function study has applications in bioengineering and bioenergy/biofuel industries. The proposed project involves training students at various levels of education.