Sulfide Toxicity as Key Control on Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane in Eutrophic Coastal Sediments.

Coastal zones account for 75% of marine methane emissions, despite covering only 15% of the ocean surface area. In these ecosystems, the tight balance between methane production and oxidation in sediments prevents most methane from escaping into seawater. However, anthropogenic activities could disrupt this balance, leading to an increased methane escape from coastal sediments.

Structural Insights into the Methane-Generating Enzyme from a Methoxydotrophic Methanogen Reveal a Restrained Gallery of Post-Translational Modifications.

Methanogenic archaea operate an ancient, if not primordial, metabolic pathway that releases methane as an end-product. This last step is orchestrated by the methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR), which uses a nickel-containing F-cofactor as the catalyst. MCR astounds the scientific world by its unique reaction chemistry, its numerous post-translational modifications, and its importance in biotechnology not only for production but also for capturing the greenhouse gas methane.