Methylotroph

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Methylotrophs are a diverse group of microorganisms that can utilize reduced one-carbon compounds, such as methanol or methane, as the carbon source for their growth. Some methylotrophs can degrade the greenhouse gas methane, and in this case they are called methanotrophs. The methanotroph Methylococcus capsulatus is used to degrade methane and other pollutants. The abundance, purity, and low price of methanol compared to commonly used sugars make methylotrophs competent organisms for production of amino acids, vitamins, recombinant proteins, single-cell proteins, co-enzymes and cytochromes.

Examples of methylotrophs:

• Genus Methanosarcina
• Methylococcus capsulatus
• Pichia pastoris

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