Nickel, a component of factor F430 from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum.

Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, growing on medium supplemented with 2 mumol 63NiCl2/l, was found to take up 1.2 mumol 63Ni per g cells (dry weight). More than 70% of the radioisotope was incorporated into a compound, which dissociated from the protein fraction after heat treatment, was soluble in 70% acetone, and could be purified by chromatography on QAE-Sephadex A-25, Sephadex G-25, and DEAE cellulose. The purified 63Ni labelled compound had an absorption spectrum and properties identical to those of factor F430 and is therefore considered to be identical with factor F430.