Promiscuity of Methionine Salvage Pathway Enzymes in \u3ci\u3eMethanocaldococcus jannaschii\u3c/i\u3e

A weakness of the life sciences is our inability to predict enzymatic function of genes. Our work aims to establish gene function by discovering new biosynthetic pathways and enzyme functions within the pathway. Using the well-studied oxygen dependent methionine salvage pathway as a guide, we searched for new pathways in methanogens. Here we established the first three predicted methanogenic enzymes have the same function as in the aerobic pathway but with promiscuous activities, implying additional roles. However, how methanogens are able to circumvent the use of oxygen has yet to be discovered, but will likely lead to new biochemistry