A tale of two methane monooxygenases.

ABSTRACT: Methane monooxygenase (MMO) enzymes activate O₂ for oxidation of methane. Two distinct MMOs exist in nature, a soluble form that uses a diiron active site (sMMO) and a membrane-bound form with a catalytic copper center (pMMO). Understanding the reaction mechanisms of these enzymes is of fundamental importance to biologists and chemists, and is also relevant to the development of new biocatalysts. The sMMO catalytic cycle has been elucidated in detail, including O₂ activation intermediates and the nature of the methane-oxidizing species. By contrast, many aspects of pMMO catalysis remain unclear, most notably the nuclearity and molecular details of the copper active site. Here, we review the current state of knowledge for both enzymes, and consider pMMO O₂ a

SUBMITTER: Ross MO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5352483 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature