The microbial oxidation of methanol. The alcohol dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas sp. M27.

1. No primary hydrogen acceptor other than phenazine methosulphate has been found for the alcohol dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas sp. M27. 2. None of a wide range of vitamins or cofactors has any effect on the activity of the enzyme. 3. The enzyme is far less sensitive to metal-chelating agents and thiol reagents than are other alcohol dehydrogenases. 4. Methanol is oxidized at least as fast as other alcohols by this enzyme and its well-defined substrate specificity is different from that of other alcohol dehydrogenases. Only primary alcohols are oxidized; the general formula for an oxidizable substrate is R.CH(2).OH, where R may be H or [Formula: see text] 5. Whole organisms oxidize only those alcohols that are oxidized by the isolated enzyme.