Different Isozymes of Methylcobalamin:2-mercaptoethanesulfonate Methyltransferase Predominate in Methanol- versus Acetate-grown Methanosarcina barkeri

Two forms of methylcobalamin:2-mercaptoethanesulfonate methyltransferase were observed in Methanosarcina barkeri. Resolution of the enzymes was accomplished by chromatography on hydroxylapatite. The enzymes exhibited different electrophoretic mobilities under nondenaturing conditions, and were separated based upon differences in net charge. Both isozymes were similar in size, having molecular weights of approximately 34,000. Antibody binding experiments demonstrated that when M. barkeri was grown on methanol, one of the enzyme forms constituted approximately 89% of the total activity, whereas in acetate-grown cells around 60 to 80% of the activity was due to the alternate form. The lack of strong cross-reactivity of polyclonal antibodies raised separately against both forms of the enzyme indicates that the two isozymes possess unique structural properties.