Role of component C in the methylreductase system of Methanobacterium.

A major simplification of the methyl coenzyme M methylreductase system of Methanobacterium has been effected. The 500,000-dalton hydrogenase complex has been replaced by an NADPH-coenzyme F420 oxidoreductase. By use of this electron-generating reaction, the methylreductase was found to be localized in component C, an acidic protein fraction. In the presence of the oxidoreductase and the methylreductase, formation of methane under a nitrogen atmosphere was dependent upon the addition of NADPH, coenzyme F420, component B (a new cofactor of unknown structure), ATP, Mg2+, and methyl coenzyme M.