The enzyme, which catalyses the transfer of methyl groups from methanol to a methanol-specific corrinoid protein (MtaC), is involved in methanogenesis from methanol. Methylation of the corrinoid protein requires the central cobalt to be in the Co(I) state. During methylation the cobalt is oxidized to the Co(III) state. Free cob(I)alamin can substitute for the corrinoid protein in vitro [2]. Inactivated by oxygen and other oxidizing agents, and reactivated by catalytic amounts of ATP and hydrogen.
Cofactor
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Reactions
Methanol + a [Co(I) methanol-specific corrinoid protein] = a [methyl- Co(III) methanol-specific corrinoid protein] + H(2)O.