Methane Monooxygenases (MMOs) serve the primary function for primary function of converting methane into Methanol for further digestion in Methanotrophic organisms. They come two distinct forms. The membrane bound particulate (pMMO) form and the free cytoplasmic soluble (sMMO) form. Methanotrophs can possess either of these or both fore use in metabolism.
These two different proteins have been shown to have variable forms and kinetic capabilities across the spectrum of methanotrophic microbial species. The capabilities for digestion can be directly characterized by testing the rates of digestion of CH4. This can be further determined by identifying specific species of methanotroph through 16S rRNA sequencing. The full sequence of the MMO can be then characterized through sequencing protein folding studies and X-Ray crystallography. The protein structures that lead to changes in enzyme kinetics can then be identified and utilized for making more active methanotrophic species.
CH4 Microbial Solutions 