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Methylene‐tetrahydropterin reductases catalyze the reduction of a methylene to a methyl group bound to a reduced pterin as C1 carrier in various one‐carbon (C1) metabolisms. F420‐dependent methylene‐tetrahydromethanopterin (methylene‐H4MPT) reductase (Mer) and the flavin‐independent methylene‐tetrahydrofolate (methylene‐H4F) reductase (Mfr) use a ternary complex mechanism for the direct transfer of a hydride from F420H2 and NAD(P)H to the respective methylene group, whereas FAD‐dependent methylene‐H4F reductase (MTHFR) uses FAD as prosthetic group and a ping–pong mechanism to catalyze the reduction of methylene‐H4F. A ternary complex structure and a thereof derived catalytic mechanism of MTHFR is available, while no ternary complex structures of Mfr or Mer are reported. Here, Mer from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (jMer) was heterologously produced and the crystal structures of the enzyme with and without F420 were determined. A ternary complex of jMer was modeled on the basis of the jMer‐F420 structure and the ternary complex structure of MTHFR by superimposing the polypeptide after fixing hydride‐transferring atoms of the flavins on each other, and by the subsequent transfer of the methyl‐tetrahydropterin from MTHFR to jMer. Mutational analysis of four functional amino acids, which are similarly positioned in the three reductase structures, indicated despite the insignificant sequence identity, a common catalytic mechanism with a 5‐iminium cation of methylene‐tetrahydropterin as intermediate protonated by a shared glutamate. According to structural, mutational and phylogenetic analysis, the evolution of the three reductases most likely proceeds via a convergent development although a divergent scenario requiring drastic structural changes of the common ancestor cannot be completely ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FAD‐independent methylene‐tetrahydrofolate (methylene‐H4F) reductase (Mfr), recently identified in mycobacteria, catalyzes the reduction of methylene‐H4F to methyl‐H4F with NADH as hydride donor by a ternary complex mechanism. This biochemical reaction corresponds to that of the ubiquitous FAD‐dependent methylene‐H4F reductase (MTHFR), although the latter uses a ping‐pong mechanism with the prosthetic group as intermediate hydride carrier. Comparative genomics and genetic analyses indicated that Mfr is indispensable for the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which lacks the MTHFR encoding gene. Therefore, Mfr appears to be an excellent target for the design of antimycobacterial drugs. Here, we report the heterologous production, enzymological characterization, and the crystal structure of Mfr from the thermophilic mycobacterium Mycobacterium hassiacum (hMfr), which shows 78% sequence identity to Mfr from M. tuberculosis. Although hMfr and MTHFR have minor sequence identity and different catalytic mechanisms, their structures are highly similar, thus suggesting a divergent evolution of Mfr and MTHFR from a common ancestor. Most of the important active site residues of MTHFR are conserved and equivalently positioned in the tertiary structure of hMfr. The Glu9Gln variant of hMfr exhibits a drastic reduction of the catalytic activity, which supports the predicted function of the glutamate residue as proton donor in both hMfr and MTHFR. Thus, highly similar binding modes for the C1‐carriers and the reducing agents in hMfr and MTHFR are assumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) transporters are widespread in all domains of life. Bacterial MATE transporters confer multidrug resistance by utilizing an electrochemical gradient of H+ or Na+ to export xenobiotics across the membrane. Despite the availability of X-ray structures of several MATE transporters, a detailed understanding of the transport mechanism has remained elusive. Here we report the crystal structure of a MATE transporter from Aquifex aeolicus at 2.0-Å resolution. In light of its phylogenetic placement outside of the diversity of hitherto-described MATE transporters and the lack of conserved acidic residues, this protein may represent a subfamily of prokaryotic MATE transporters, which was proven by phylogenetic analysis. Furthermore, the crystal structure and substrate docking results indicate that the substrate binding site is located in the N bundle. The importance of residues surrounding this binding site was demonstrated by structure-based site-directed mutagenesis. We suggest that Aq_128 is functionally similar but structurally diverse from DinF subfamily transporters. Our results provide structural insights into the MATE transporter, which further advances our global understanding of this important transporter family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A continuous FeMo cofactor supply for nitrogenase maturation is ensured in Azotobacter vinelandii by developing a cage‐like molybdenum storage protein (MoSto) capable to store ca. 120 molybdate molecules (MoO42−) as discrete polyoxometalate (POM) clusters. To gain mechanistic insight into this process, MoSto was characterized by Mo and ATP/ADP content, structural, and kinetic analysis. We defined three functionally relevant states specified by the presence of both ATP/ADP and POM clusters (MoStofunct), of only ATP/ADP (MoStobasal) and of neither ATP/ADP nor POM clusters (MoStozero), respectively. POM clusters are only produced when ATP is hydrolyzed to ADP and phosphate. Vmax was ca. 13 μmolphosphate·min−1·mg−1 and Km for molybdate and ATP/Mg2+ in the low micromolar range. ATP hydrolysis presumably proceeds at subunit α, inferred from a highly occupied α‐ATP/Mg2+ and a weaker occupied β‐ATP/no Mg2+‐binding site found in the MoStofunct structure. Several findings indicate that POM cluster storage is separated into a rapid ATP hydrolysis‐dependent molybdate transport across the protein cage wall and a slow molybdate assembly induced by combined auto‐catalytic and protein‐driven processes. The cage interior, the location of the POM cluster depot, is locked in all three states and thus not rapidly accessible for molybdate from the outside. Based on Vmax, the entire Mo storage process should be completed in less than 10 s but requires, according to the molybdate content analysis, ca. 15 min. Long‐time incubation of MoStobasal with nonphysiological high molybdate amounts implicates an equilibrium in and outside the cage and POM cluster self‐formation without ATP hydrolysis. Databases: The crystal structures MoSto in the MoSto‐F6, MoSto‐F7, MoStobasal, MoStozero, and MoSto‐F1vitro states were deposited to PDB under the accession numbers PDB 6GU5, 6GUJ, 6GWB, 6GWV, and 6GX4. Polyoxomolybdate cluster storage of the molybdenum storage protein is separated into a rapid ATP hydrolysis‐dependent molybdate transport across the proteinous cage wall and a slow protein‐promoted and ATP‐independent molybdate self‐assembly process. Polyoxomolybdate clusters are formed in specific protein pockets supported by the high molybdate concentrations accumulated inside the cage provided via the molybdate pump. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mono‐iron hydrogenase ([Fe]‐hydrogenase) reversibly catalyzes the transfer of a hydride ion from H2 to methenyltetrahydromethanopterin (methenyl‐H4MPT+) to form methylene‐H4MPT. Its iron guanylylpyridinol (FeGP) cofactor plays a key role in H2 activation. Evidence is presented for O2 sensitivity of [Fe]‐hydrogenase under turnover conditions in the presence of reducing substrates, methylene‐H4MPT or methenyl‐H4MPT+/H2. Only then, H2O2 is generated, which decomposes the FeGP cofactor; as demonstrated by spectroscopic analyses and the crystal structure of the deactivated enzyme. O2 reduction to H2O2 requires a reductant, which can be a catalytic intermediate transiently formed during the [Fe]‐hydrogenase reaction. The most probable candidate is an iron hydride species; its presence has already been predicted by theoretical studies of the catalytic reaction. The findings support predictions because the same type of reduction reaction is described for ruthenium hydride complexes that hydrogenate polar compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavin‐based electron bifurcation (FBEB) is a recently discovered mode of energy coupling in anaerobic microorganisms. The electron‐bifurcating caffeyl‐CoA reductase (CarCDE) catalyzes the reduction of caffeyl‐CoA and ferredoxin by oxidizing NADH. The 3.5 Å structure of the heterododecameric Car(CDE)4 complex of Acetobacterium woodii, presented here, reveals compared to other electron‐transferring flavoprotein/acyl dehydrogenase family members an additional ferredoxin‐like domain with two [4Fe–4S] clusters N‐terminally fused to CarE. It might serve, in vivo, as specific adaptor for the physiological electron acceptor. Kinetic analysis of a CarCDE(∆Fd) complex indicates the bypassing of the ferredoxin‐like domain by artificial electron acceptors. Site‐directed mutagenesis studies substantiated the crucial role of the C‐terminal arm of CarD and of ArgE203, hydrogen‐bonded to the bifurcating FAD, for FBEB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

8-demethyl-8-aminoriboflavin-5′-phosphate (AFP) synthase (RosB) catalyzes the key reaction of roseoflavin biosynthesis by forming AFP from riboflavin-5′-phosphate (RP) and glutamate via the intermediates 8-demethyl-8-formylriboflavin-5′-phosphate (OHC-RP) and 8-demethyl-8-carboxylriboflavin-5′-phosphate (HO2C-RP). To understand this reaction in which a methyl substituent of an aromatic ring is replaced by an amine we structurally characterized RosB in complex with OHC-RP (2.0 Å) and AFP (1.7 Å). RosB is composed of four flavodoxin-like subunits which have been upgraded with specific extensions and a unique C-terminal arm. It appears that RosB has evolved from an electron- or hydride-transferring flavoprotein to a sophisticated multi-step enzyme which uses RP as a substrate (and not as a cofactor). Structure-based active site analysis was complemented by mutational and isotope-based mass-spectrometric data to propose an enzymatic mechanism on an atomic basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrocarbons are abundant in anoxic environments and pose biochemical challenges to their anaerobic degradation by microorganisms. Within the framework of the Priority Program 1319, investigations funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft on the anaerobic microbial degradation of hydrocarbons ranged from isolation and enrichment of hitherto unknown hydrocarbon-degrading anaerobic microorganisms, discovery of novel reactions, detailed studies of enzyme mechanisms and structures to process-oriented in situ studies. Selected highlights from this program are collected in this synopsis, with more detailed information provided by theme-focused reviews of the special topic issue on 'Anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbons' [this issue, pp. 1-244]. The interdisciplinary character of the program, involving microbiologists, biochemists, organic chemists and environmental scientists, is best exemplified by the studies on alkyl-/arylalkylsuccinate synthases. Here, research topics ranged from in-depth mechanistic studies of archetypical toluene-activating benzylsuccinate synthase, substrate-specific phylogenetic clustering of alkyl-/arylalkylsuccinate synthases (toluene plus xylenes, p -cymene, p -cresol, 2-methylnaphthalene, n -alkanes), stereochemical and co-metabolic insights into n -alkane-activating (methylalkyl)succinate synthases to the discovery of bacterial groups previously unknown to possess alkyl-/arylalkylsuccinate synthases by means of functional gene markers and in situ field studies enabled by state-of-the-art stable isotope probing and fractionation approaches. Other topics are Mo-cofactor-dependent dehydrogenases performing O 2 -independent hydroxylation of hydrocarbons and alkyl side chains (ethylbenzene, p -cymene, cholesterol, n -hexadecane), degradation of p -alkylated benzoates and toluenes, glycyl radical-bearing 4-hydroxyphenylacetate decarboxylase, novel types of carboxylation reactions (for acetophenone, acetone, and potentially also benzene and naphthalene), W-cofactor-containing enzymes for reductive dearomatization of benzoyl-CoA (class II benzoyl-CoA reductase) in obligate anaerobes and addition of water to acetylene, fermentative formation of cyclohexanecarboxylate from benzoate, and methanogenic degradation of hydrocarbons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of the implication of the crystal structure of iron [Fe]-hydrogenase in complex with inhibitory isocyanides for the H2 activation site. It demonstrates the iron-ligation structure of the enzyme using X-ray crystallography and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). It recommends the introduction of C2 pyridinol-hydroxy group to improve model compounds that mimick [Fe]-hydrogenase.

Flavohemoglobins (flavoHbs) serve various microorganisms as the major protective enzymes against NO˙-mediated toxicity. FlavoHbs dominantly function as an NO˙ dioxygenase ( [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thiamine diphosphate (ThDP) dependent flavoenzyme cyclohexane-1,2-dione hydrolase (CDH) () catalyses a key step of a novel anaerobic degradation pathway for alicyclic alcohols by converting cyclohexane-1,2-dione (CDO) to 6-oxohexanoate and further to adipate using NAD+ as electron acceptor. To gain insights into the molecular basis of these reactions CDH from denitrifying anaerobe Azoarcus sp. strain 22Lin was structurally characterized at 1.26 Å resolution. Notably, the active site funnel is rearranged in an unprecedented manner providing the structural basis for the specific binding and cleavage of an alicyclic compound. Crucial features include a decreased and displaced funnel entrance, a semi-circularly shaped loop segment preceding the C-terminal arm and the attachment of the C-terminal arm to other subunits of the CDH tetramer. Its structural scaffold and the ThDP activation is related to that observed for other members of the ThDP enzyme family. The selective binding of the competitive inhibitor 2-methyl-2,4-pentane-diol (MPD) to the open funnel of CDH reveals an asymmetry of the two active sites found also in the dimer of several other ThDP dependent enzymes. The substrate binding site is characterized by polar and non-polar moieties reflected in the structures of MPD and CDO and by three prominent histidine residues (His28, His31 and His76) that most probably play a crucial role in substrate activation. The NAD+ dependent oxidation of 6-oxohexanoate remains enigmatic as the redox-active cofactor FAD seems not to participate in catalysis, and no obvious NAD+ binding site is found. Based on the structural data both reactions are discussed. Database Structural data are available in the Protein Data Bank database under accession number Structured digital abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The di-iron flavoprotein F420H2 oxidase found in methanogenic Archaea catalyzes the four-electron reduction of O2 to 2H2O with 2 mol of reduced coenzyme F420(7,8-dimethyl-8-hydroxy-5-deazariboflavin). We report here on crystal structures of the homotetrameric F420H2 oxidase from Methanothermobacter marburgensis at resolutions of 2.25 Å, 2.25 Å and 1.7 Å, respectively, from which an active reduced state, an inactive oxidized state and an active oxidized state could be extracted. As found in structurally related A-type flavoproteins, the active site is formed at the dimer interface, where the di-iron center of one monomer is juxtaposed to FMN of the other. In the active reduced state [Fe(II)Fe(II)FMNH2], the two irons are surrounded by four histidines, one aspartate, one glutamate and one bridging aspartate. The so-called switch loop is in a closed conformation, thus preventing F420 binding. In the inactive oxidized state [Fe(III)FMN], the iron nearest to FMN has moved to two remote binding sites, and the switch loop is changed to an open conformation. In the active oxidized state [Fe(III)Fe(III)FMN], both irons are positioned as in the reduced state but the switch loop is found in the open conformation as in the inactive oxidized state. It is proposed that the redox-dependent conformational change of the switch loop ensures alternate complete four-electron O2 reduction and redox center re-reduction. On the basis of the known Si–Si stereospecific hydride transfer, F420H2 was modeled into the solvent-accessible pocket in front of FMN. The inactive oxidized state might provide the molecular basis for enzyme inactivation by long-term O2 exposure observed in some members of the FprA family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylenetetratetrahydromethanopterin reductase (Mer) is involved in CO2 reduction to methane in methanogenic archaea and catalyses the reversible reduction of methylenetetrahydromethanopterin (methylene-H4MPT) to methyl-H4MPT with coenzyme F420H2, which is a reduced 5′-deazaflavin. Mer was recently established as a TIM barrel structure containing a nonprolyl cis-peptide bond but the binding site of the substrates remained elusive. We report here on the crystal structure of Mer in complex with F420 at 2.6 Å resolution. The isoalloxazine ring is present in a pronounced butterfly conformation, being induced from the Re-face of F420 by a bulge that contains the non-prolyl cis-peptide bond. The bindingmode of F420 is very similar to that in F420-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase Adf despite the low sequence identity of 21%. Moreover, binding of F420 to the apoenzyme was only associated with minor conformational changes of the polypeptide chain. These findings allowed us to build an improved model of FMN into its binding site in bacterial luciferase, which belongs to the same structural family as Mer and Adf and also contains a nonprolyl cis-peptide bond in an equivalent position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formyltransferase catalyzes the reversible formation of formylmethanofuran from N5-formyltetrahydromethanopterin and methanofuran, a reaction involved in the C1 metabolism of methanogenic and sulfate-reducing archaea. The crystal structure of the homotetrameric enzyme from Methanopyrus kandleri (growth temperature optimum 98°C) has recently been solved at 1.65 Å resolution. We report here the crystal structures of the formyltransferase from Methanosarcina barkeri (growth temperature optimum 37°C) and from Archaeoglobus fulgidus (growth temperature optimum 83°C) at 1.9 Å and 2.0 Å resolution, respectively. Comparison of the structures of the three enzymes revealed very similar folds. The most striking difference found was the negative surface charge, which was −32 for the M. kandleri enzyme, only −8 for the M. barkeri enzyme, and −11 for the A. fulgidus enzyme. The hydrophobic surface fraction was 50% for the M. kandleri enzyme, 56% for the M. barkeri enzyme, and 57% for the A. fulgidus enzyme. These differences most likely reflect the adaptation of the enzyme to different cytoplasmic concentrations of potassium cyclic 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, which are very high in M. kandleri (>1 M) and relatively low in M. barkeri and A. fulgidus. Formyltransferase is in a monomer/dimer/tetramer equilibrium that is dependent on the salt concentration. Only the dimers and tetramers are active, and only the tetramers are thermostable. The enzyme from M. kandleri is a tetramer, which is active and thermostable only at high concentrations of potassium phosphate (>1 M) or potassium cyclic 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. Conversely, the enzyme from M. barkeri and A. fulgidus already showed these properties, activity and stability, at much lower concentrations of these strong salting-out salts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NADP-dependent methylene-H4MPT dehydrogenase, MtdA, from Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 catalyzes the dehydrogenation of methylene-tetrahydromethanopterin and methylene-tetrahydrofolate with NADP+ as cosubstrate. The X-ray structure of MtdA with and without NADP bound was established at 1.9 A˚ resolution. The enzyme is present as a homotrimer. The α,β fold of the monomer is related to that of methylene-H4F dehydrogenases, suggesting a common evolutionary origin. The position of the active site is located within a large crevice built up by the two domains of one subunit and one domain of a second subunit. Methylene-H4MPT could be modeled into the cleft, and crucial active site residues such as Phe18, Lys256, His260, and Thr102 were identified. The molecular basis of the different substrate specificities and different catalytic demands of MtdA compared to methylene-H4F dehydrogenases are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Bowman­Birk inhibitor from soybean is a small protein that contains a binary arrangement of trypsin-reactive and chymotrypsin-reactive subdomains. In this report, the crystal ,structure of this anticarcinogenic protein has been determined to 0.28-nm resolution by molecular replacement from crystals grown at neutral pH. The crystal structure differs from a previously determined NMR structure [Werner, M. H. & Wemmer, D. E. (1992) Biochemisoy 31, 999–10101 in the relative orientation of the two enzyme-insertion loops, in some details of the main chain trace, in the presence of favourable contacts in the trypsin-insertion loop, and in the orientation of several amino acid chains. The proximity of Met27 and Gin48 in the X-ray structure contradicts the solution structure, in which these two side chains point away from each other. The significant effect of a Met27→Ile replacement on the inhibitory activity of the chymotrypsin-reactive subdomain agrees with the X-ray structure. Exposed hydrophobic patches, the presence of charged amino acid residues, and the presence of water molecules in the protein interior are in contrast to standard proteins that comprise a hydrophobic core and exposed polar amino acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Structural basis of enzymatic benzene ring reduction" is presented.

The molybdenum storage protein (MoSto) can store more than 100 Mo or W atoms as discrete polyoxometalate (POM) clusters. Here, we describe the three POM cluster sites along the threefold axis of the protein complex based on four X-ray structures with slightly different polyoxomolybdate compositions between 1.35 and 2 Å resolution. In contrast to the Moα-out binding site occupied by an Mo3 cluster, the Moα-in and Moβ binding sites contain rather weak and non-uniform electron density for the Mo atoms (but clearly identifiable by anomalous data), suggesting the presence of POM cluster ensembles and/or degradation products of larger aggregates. The "Moα-in cluster ensemble" was interpreted as an antiprism-like Mo6 species superimposed with an Mo7 pyramide and the "Moβ cluster ensemble" as an Mo13 cluster (present mostly in a degraded form) composed of a pyramidal Mo7 and a Mo3 building block linked by three spatially separated MoOx units. Inside the ball-shaped Mo13 cluster sits an occluded central atom, perhaps a metal ion. POM cluster formation at the Moα-in and Moβ sites appears to be driven by filtering out and binding/protecting self-assembled transient species complementary to the protein template. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iron–sulphur cluster-free hydrogenase (Hmd, EC 1.12.98.2) from methanogenic archaea is a novel type of hydrogenase that tightly binds an iron-containing cofactor. The iron is coordinated by two CO molecules, one sulphur and a pyridone derivative, which is linked via a phosphodiester bond to a guanosine base. We report here on the crystal structure of the Hmd apoenzyme from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii at 1.75Å and from Methanopyrus kandleri at 2.4Å resolution. Homodimeric Hmd reveals a unique architecture composed of one central and two identical peripheral globular units. The central unit is composed of the intertwined C-terminal segments of both subunits, forming a novel intersubunit fold. The two peripheral units consist of the N-terminal domain of each subunit. The Rossmann fold-like structure of the N-terminal domain contains a mononucleotide-binding site, which could harbour the GMP moiety of the cofactor. Another binding site for the iron-containing cofactor is most probably Cys176, which is located at the bottom of a deep intersubunit cleft and which has been shown to be essential for enzyme activity. Adjacent to the iron of the cofactor modelled as a ligand to Cys176, an extended U-shaped extra electron density, interpreted as a polyethyleneglycol fragment, suggests a binding site for the substrate methenyltetrahydromethanopterin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The fourth reaction step of CO2-reduction to methane in methanogenic archaea is catalyzed by coenzyme F420-dependent methylenetetrahydromethanopterin dehydrogenase (Mtd). We have structurally characterized this enzyme in the selenomethionine-labelled form from the hyperthermophilic methanogenic archaeon Methanopyrus kandleri at 1.54 A˚ resolution using the single wavelength anomalous dispersion method for phase determination. Mtd was found to be a homohexameric protein complex that is organized as a trimer of dimers. The fold of the individual subunits is composed of two domains: a larger α,β domain and a smaller helix bundle domain with a short C-terminal β-sheet segment. In the homohexamer the α,β domains are positioned at the outside of the enzyme, whereas, the helix bundle domains assemble towards the inside to form an unusual quarternary structure with a 12-helix bundle around a 3-fold axis. No structural similarities are detectable to other enzymes with F420 and/or substituted tetrahydropterins as substrates. The substrate binding sites of F420 and methylenetetrahydromethanopterin are most likely embedded into a crevice between the domains of one subunit, their isoalloxazine and tetrahydropterin rings being placed inside a pocket formed by this crevice and a loop segment of the adjacent monomer of the dimer. Mtd revealed the highest stability at low salt concentrations of all structurally characterized enzymes from M. kandleri. This finding might be due to the compact quaternary structure that buries 36% of the monomer surface and to the large number of ion pairs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Methane is an end product of anaerobic degradation of organic compounds in fresh water environments such as lake sediments and the intestinal tract of animals. Methanogenic archaea produce methane from carbon dioxide and molecular hydrogen, acetate and C1 compounds such as methanol in an energy gaining process. The methanogenic pathway utilizing carbon dioxide and molecular hydrogen involves ten methanogen specific enzymes, which catalyze unique reactions using novel coenzymes. These enzymes have been purified and biochemically characterized. The genes encoding the enzymes have been cloned and sequenced. Recently, crystal structures of five methanogenic enzymes: formylmethanofuran : tetrahydromethanopterin formyltransferase, methenyltetrahydromethanopterin cyclohydrolase, methylenetetrahydromethanopterin reductase, F420H2: NADP oxidoreductase and methyl-coenzyme M reductase were reported. In this review, we describe the pathway utilizing carbon dioxide and molecular hydrogen and the catalytic mechanisms of the enzymes based on their crystal structures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]