Methylovorus

Abstract

Me.thy.lo.vo'rus. N.L. neut. n. methylum the methyl group; N.L. masc. adj. vorus consuming; N.L. masc.n. Methylovorus the methyl consumer. Proteobacteria / Betaproteobacteria / Methylophilales / Methylophilaceae / Methylovorus The genus Methylovorus accommodates obligate and restricted facultative methylotrophs. Cells of these methylotrophic bacteria are Gram‐stain negative, aerobic, and motile rods with single polar flagellum, which multiply by binary fission and occur singly without aggregation. Cells do not possess endospores, intracellular membranes, or poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate granules and prosthecae. Cells of some strains produce slime. Members of this genus are able to utilize methanol via the ribulose monophosphate (RuMP) pathway of C 1 assimilation. These bacteria possess an incomplete tricarboxylic acid cycle because they lack α‐ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. Enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle (malate synthase and isocitrate lyase) are absent. Some strains can grow on methylamine and poorly on glucose or fructose. No growth occurs on rich media with peptone and under CH 4 + O 2 or H 2 + CO 2 + O 2 in the gas phase. These methylotrophic bacteria are mesophilic, neutrophilic, and nonhalophilic. Vitamins or other growth factors are not required for growth. Nitrogen sources are ammonium salts, nitrates, and some amino acids. Indole is produced from l ‐tryptophan on mineral medium with methanol and KNO 3 . The major fatty acids are C 16:0 and C 16:1 ω7 c . Known habitats are wastewater, soil, or phyllosphere and rhizosphere of various plants. DNA G + C content (mol%) : 54.0–55.4 ( T m and genome sequence). Type species : Methylovorus glucosotrophus Govorukhina and Trotsenko 1991 VP .