The prosthetic group of methanol dehydrogenase. Purification and some of its properties

Abstract

Methanol dehydrogenases isolated from bacteria belonging to different classes of methylotrophs contain the same prosthetic group. A procedure for its purification from whole cells is given. The reduced and oxidized form of the enzyme from Hyphomicrobium X and those of the isolated group are compared and it is concluded that the latter indeed functions in the enzyme. Further evidence is presented that the prosthetic group is not a pterine or lumazine derivative, but a water-soluble nitrogen-containing quinone.