Methanogen factor 390 formation: species distribution, reversibility and effects of non-oxidative cellular stresses.

Factor 390 (F390), an adenylylated or guanylylated derivative of the methanogen coenzyme factor 420 (F420), was previously detected in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum cells exposed to air. Of six other methanogenic species that have now been tested, only Methanobacterium formicicum was found to produce F390 upon oxygen exposure. Aerobic conditions led to an immediate cessation of methanogenesis, whereas only 51% of cellular F420 was slowly converted to F390 over 4 h in Mb.formicicum at 37 degrees C. F390 formation is reversible. When oxidized cells were re-introduced into anoxic medium, F390 reverted to F420 prior to recovery of methanogenesis. Anaerobic cultures of Mb.formicicum were subjected to alternative stresses such as exposure to heavy metals, methanogenesis inhibitors and eubacterial alarmone-producing chemicals; however, only oxygen was found to induce F390 formation.