GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY - T.P. Pirog - 2004

12. METABOLIC ACTIVITY OF AEROBIC HETEROTROPHS

12.2. GROWTH ON REDUCED C1 COMPOUNDS (METHANE, METHANOL)

Microorganisms capable of growing on reduced C1 compounds (methane, methanol, methylamines, formaldehyde, formate) are referred to as methylotrophs. Methylotrophic microorganisms can be divided into several physiological groups:

1) methane-oxidizing Bacteria (or obligate methanotrophs), which obligately assimilate methane as their sole carbon source, while other carbon sources are unsuitable for their growth:

2) obligate methylotrophs, which utilize only methanol (or methylamines) as a carbon and energy source, being unable to grow on methane or multi-carbon compounds;

3) facultative methylotrophs, which are capable of assimilating a wide range of other organic substrates In addition to methanol (or methylamines).

The first isolated methylotroph was a bacterium named Bacillus methanicus (1906). In the 1930s, it was re-isolated and renamed Pseudomonas methanica (Methylomonas methanica). Obligate methanotrophs belong to the genera Methylococcus, Methylomonas, Methylocystis, and Methylosinus.

Facultative methylotrophs include Yeasts and bacteria belonging to the genera Hyphomicrobium, Pseudomonas, and Methylobacterium.



Last update: 12/08/2026

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