Characterization of the genes and gene products of the acetate-activating enzymes and a novel iron-sulfur flavoprotein from Methanosarcina thermophila strain TM-1

The genes encoding the acetate kinase and phosphotransacetylase enzymes from Methanosarcina thermophila were isolated from a genomic library on a fifteen kilobase fragment The genes are located adjacent to one another, with the phosphotransacetylase gene (pta) directly upstream of the acetate kinase gene (ack). The two genes were sequenced, along with a third Open Reading Frame (designated orfY). The orfY gene appears to encode a novel protein whose physiological function has yet to be determined.