methylotroph

(noun)

Any organism that utilizes simple methyl compounds (such as methane or methanol) as a source of carbon and of energy.

Related Terms

Examples of methylotroph in the following topics:

  • Methylotrophy and Methanotrophy

    • Methylotrophs and methanotrophs are a diverse group of microorganisms that can derive energy from the metabolism of single-carbon compounds.
    • Microbes with this capability are known as methylotrophs.
    • Methylotrophs, in general, aerobically utilize C1 compounds by oxidizing them to yield formaldehyde.
    • Some methylotrophs can degrade the greenhouse gas methane.
    • As in the general case described above for methylotrophs, methanotrophs ultimately oxidize the methanol produced by MMOs to yield formaldehyde.

  • Organic Acid Metabolism

    • Formate metabolism is important in methylotrophic organisms.
    • Methylotrophic microbes convert single-carbon compounds to formaldehyde, which is oxidized to formate by formaldehyde dehydrogenase.