Viologen dye inhibition of methane formation by Methanobacillus omelianskii.

Wolin, E. A. (University of Illinois, Urbana), R. S. Wolfe, and M. J. Wolin. Viologen dye inhibition of methane formation by Methanobacillus omelianskii. J. Bacteriol. 87:993-998. 1964.-Low concentrations of methyl or benzyl viologen inhibit the formation of CH(4) from ethanol and CO(2) by washed cells of Methanobacillus omelianskii. Hydrogen, which is normally formed from ethanol, accumulates in greater quantities when CH(4) formation is inhibited by viologens. The viologens do not stimulate H(2) formation from ethanol in the absence of CO(2). Inhibition of CH(4) formation by the viologens is not reversed by H(2). A variety of other dyes and possible electron acceptors were tested for inhibition, and none was inhibitory in the same low-concentration range at which the viologens were effective.