• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.179-183
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• 1993

A restricted facultatively methanol-oxidizing bacterium, Methylovorus sp. strain SS1, was isolate dfrom soil samples from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, through methanol-enrichment culture technique. The isolate was nonmotile Gram-negative rod and did not have complex internal membrane system. The colonies were small, pale-yellow, and raised convex with entire margin. The cell did not produce any spores and capsular materials. The cell was obligately aerobic and exhibited catalase, but no oxidase, activity. Plasmid, carotenoid pigment, and poly-.betha.-hydroxybutyric acid were not found. The guanine plus cytosine content of the DNA was 55%. The isolate was found to grow only on methanol methylamine, or glucose. Growth factors were not required. Cells growing on methanol was found to produce extracellular polysaccharides containing glucose, lactose, and fructose. Growth was optimal (t$_{d}$= 1.7) with 0.5%(v/v) methanol at 40.deg.C and pH 6.5. No Growth was observed at over 60.deg.C. Cell-free extracts of the methanol grown cells exhibited the phenazine methosulfate-linked methanol dehydrogenase activity Methanol was found to be assimilate dthrough the ribulose monophosphate pathway.y.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.819-825
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• 2002

Methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) is a key enzyme in the process of methanol oxidation in methylotrophic bacteria. However, information on MDH genes from genus Methylobacillus is limited. In this study, a 6.5-kb HindIII DNA fragment of Methylobacillus sp. SK-5 chromosomal DNA was isolated from the genomic library of the strain by using a degenerate oligonucleotide probe that was designed based on JV-terminal amino acid sequence of the MDH $\alpha$ subunit purified from the strain. Molecular analysis of the fragment revealed four tightly clustered genes (mxaFJGI) involved in the methanol oxidation. The first and fourth genes were very similar to mxaF (77% identity for nucleotides an 78% identity for amino acids) and mxaF (67% Identity for nucleotides and 68% Identity for amino acids) genes, respectively, from Methylovorus sp. SSI. Genes mxaF and mxaI encode $\alpha$ and $\beta$ subunits of MDH, respectively. The two subunits were identified from purified MDH from Methylobacillus sp. SK-5. A dendrogram constructed by comparison of amino acid sequences of MDH u subunits suggests that MxaF from Methylobacillus sp. SK-5 belongs to a subfamily cluster of MDH u subunits from $\beta$-subgroup Proteobacteria. The subfamily cluster is separated from the other subfamily that consists of $\beta$- and $\gamma$-subgroup Proteobacteria. This study provided information on mn genes from a methylotrophic bacterium in $\beta$-subgroup Proteobacteria, which would aid to better develop a gene probe to detect one-carbon metabolizing bacteria.