3-nitrooxypropanol Report
Introduction
Sheep, cattle, goats, and some wild animals such as antelopes and their families that are predominantly known as ruminants ferment plant material in their rumen. The result of this fermentation process is the formation of propionate, CO2, acetate, butyrate, and methane (Alexander et al., 2015). The carbon dioxide and methane formed escape from the bodies of these animals into the atmosphere.3-nitrooxypropanol is believed to inhibit methanogenesis in ruminant, an action that has various applications and benefits to the environment and animals. This report will consider the need for and application of the 3-nitrooxypropanol and how it would work and function.
The need for and application of 3-nitroopropanol (3-NOP)
The fermentation of plant materials in the bodies of the ruminants results in the formation of methane which is a greenhouse gas (Evert et al., 2016). This gas is introduced into the atmosphere through eructation process, and in combination with other greenhouse gasses, it leads to climate changes (EPA, 2014). Thus, the inclusion 3-nitrooxypropanol into the feeds of ruminating animals is needed to inhibit the release of greenhouse gasses and prevent climate change. 3-NOP is preferred because it has no side effects on ruminants as found by Alexander et al. (2015). A significant energy loss often accompanies the eructation of methane gas from the bodies of ruminants. About 12% of the food energy ingested with plant materials is lost during eructation (Evert et al., 2016). Therefore, 3-nitrooxypropanol is needed to prevent energy loss from the ruminants.
Hydrogen gas (H2) is normally generated by various microorganisms present in the bodies of ruminants. The formation of methane during methanogenesis involves the consumption of the hydrogen (Wolin, 1979). However, the rate at which these microorganisms generate hydrogen is lower compared to the rate of hydrogen consumption by the methane formation. Thus, methanogenesis deprives the bodies of ruminants of the sufficient hydrogen required for the formation of energy and other food compounds that require hydrogen. This reduces feed efficacy in ruminants (Wolin, 1979). Therefore, the inhibition of methane production by 3-nitrooxypropanol is vital to improving feed efficacy among the ruminants.
3-nitrooxypropanol inhibits the methanogenesis in ruminants, resulting in the reductions in the emissions of enteric methane. However, this inhibition does not have any harmful side effect on the ruminating animals. As such, 3-NOP is applied in small quantities in livestock feeds during the manufacture of animal feeds to reduce the formation of methane during the fermentation of plant material (Alexander et al., 2015). This can form an important industrial application of 3- nitrooxypropanol.
How 3-nitrooxypropanol would work and function
3-nitrooxypropanol inhibits the formation of methane by inhibiting the methanogenesis process (Romero et al., 2015). The process of methane formation is aided by a catalyst known as MCR (Methyl-coenzyme M Reductase). This catalyst is a nickel enzyme, and it is active when the nickel is oxidized. It catalyzes the fermentation process in the rumen, resulting in the formation of enteric methane. 3-nitrooxypropanol tends to bind to the active sites of Methyl-coenzyme M Reductase that contribute to the formation of methane. It places its nitrate group that is reducible, resulting in the purification and inactivation of Methyl-coenzyme M Reductase through the oxidation of its active sites (Hinderberger et al., 2008). Additionally, this process results in the inhibition of the methanogenic archaea’s growth at a favorable concentration that does not affect essential non-methanogenic bacterial growth in ruminants’ rumen.
References
Alexander N.H, et al. (2015). An inhibitor persistently decreased enteric methane emission from dairy cows with no negative effect on milk production. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(34), 10663-10668.
EPA, United States Environmental Protection Agency (2014). Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990–2012 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC).
Evert C, et al. (2016). Mode of action uncovered for the specific reduction of methane emissions from ruminants by the small molecule 3-nitrooxypropanol. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(22), 6172-6177.
Hinderberger, D., Ebner, S., Mayr, S., Jaun, B., Reiher, M., Goenrich, M & Harmer, J. (2008). Coordination and binding geometry of methyl-coenzyme M in the red1m state of methyl-coenzyme M reductase. JBIC Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 13(8), 1275-1289.
Romero, A., Okine, E. K., McGinn, S. M., Guan, L. L., Oba, M., Duval, S. M., & Beauchemin, K. A. (2015). Sustained reduction in methane production from long-term addition of 3-nitrooxypropanol to a beef cattle diet. Journal of animal science, 93(4), 1780-1791.
Wolin M.J (1979). The rumen fermentation: a model for microbial interactions in anaerobic ecosystems. Advances in microbial ecology 3, 49–77
