Autotrophic Growth of Gas Vacuolate Strains of Microcyclus aquaticus on Methanol and Hydrogen.

Seven strains of Microcyclus aquaticus were found to be capable of growth on methanol and hydrogen as energy sources. Carbon was incorporated as CO(2) via the Calvin cycle, as shown by the presence of ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase activity in methanol-grown cells and by the absence of key enzymes of the ribulose monophosphate and serine pathways. In addition, incoporation of [C]methanol into cells was diminished when cultures were incubated in gas atmospheres enriched with carbon dioxide.