How Does Bromoethanesulfonate Function in Catalysis?
In the context of catalysis, bromoethanesulfonate acts primarily as an inhibitor. One of its principal roles is in the inhibition of the enzyme methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR), which is crucial for methane production in archaea. By inhibiting MCR, BES effectively shuts down the methanogenesis pathway, making it a powerful tool for studying methane production and its regulation.