[Methanol from ethanol? On cleavage of the ethanol carbon bond and methanol formation within the scope of microbial metabolic processes].

Abstract

While making investigations into microbiological literature, the following question was looked into: Are microorganisms able to generate methanol from the basic carbon frame of ethanol? Due to carbon monoxide dehydrogenase complexes some methanogens and acetate oxidisers are able to cleave the carbon bond of acetyl-CoA. Coenzyme bonded methyl groups (methyl-H4MPT, methyl-CoM, methyl-THF) are generated both by means of reduction (methano-genesis) and by means of oxidation (CO2 evolution) of the C2-unit. Usually these are looked at as precursors of methanol. Methanotrophs and certain methylotrophs are able to oxidise methane to methanol by means of oxigenase complexes. The C1-unit supplies coenzyme bonded CO; carbon monoxide can be reduced to methanol very effectively by several Clostridia. Both in vivo analysis of intestinal gases of alcoholised individuals and incubation experiments with certain intestinal groups with marked alcohol, might contribute in judging the real importance of the intestinal micro flora with regard to the problems of ethanol congeners.