Abstract
Methylotrophs are defined as microorganisms that are able to grow at the expense of reduced carbon compounds containing one or more carbon atoms but containing no carbon-carbon bonds. These bacteria oxidize methane and methanol and use the energy for growth. The methylotrophs can be divided into two well-defined groups: those able to use methane and those unable to do so. Methylotrophic bacteria that grow on methane are also called “methanotrophs.” This chapter focuses on the enzymes involved in the bacterial oxidation of methane and methanol to formaldehyde and the energy transduction systems involved in coupling these oxidations to ATP synthesis by way of electron transport chains, proton translocation, and the proton motive force. The first reaction in methane oxidation is hydroxlyation catalyzed by a very unusual mono-oxygenase; this requires a reductant that is probably always NADH. Methanol oxidation to formaldehyde is always catalyzed by methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) having pyrrolo–quinoline quinone (PQQ) as its prosthetic group.
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