Formate-stimulated oxidation of methanol by Pseudomonas putida 9816.

It has been reported that Pseudomonas putida 9816 is able to grow on methanol, but it does not have methanol dehydrogenase or oxidase activity. To utilize methanol it requires yeast extract. The utilization of methanol can be accelerated by adding formate, which obviously helps oxidize methanol and win biologically useful energy. This pseudo-oxidation is catalyzed by a reverse formaldehyde dismutase. Thus, methanol can be both assimilated and dissimilated. Formate alone cannot replace yeast extract. The strain is auxotrophic.