The microbial oxidation of methanol. 1. Isolation and properties of Pseudomonas sp. M 27

Abstract

An organism capable of growth on certain C1 compounds as the sole C and energy source was isolated from soil and designated Pseudomonas sp. M 27. It is a gram-negative rod, motile by a single polar flagellum, forms sudanophilic vacuoles and produces a water-insoluble pink or red pigment under all growth conditions. It can grow aerobically with methanol, methylamine or formate as the sole C and energy source. It cannot grow with methane or formaldehyde, but grows well on ethanol, lactate, acetate or succinate. The pigment, which appears to be an unsaturated carotenoid was extracted in several organic solvents; the absorption spectra of the extracts are similar to those of related organisms. The effect of several inhibitors, including cyanide, hypophosphite, chelating agents and various hydrazines, on the oxidative metabolism of washed suspensions was investigated mano-metrically; EDTA and phenylhydrazines are potent inhibitors of the oxidation of methanol and ethanol. Methanol oxidation is inhibited 50% by 1 [mu][image]-p-nitrophenylhydrazine. Evidence is presented against a catalase-mediated methanol oxidation by washed suspensions of Pseudomonas sp. M 27.