Routes of formaldehyde oxidation to CO2 in Acetobacter methanolicus MB58

Abstract Methylotrophic bacteria which use hexulose‐6‐phosphate synthase for fixing formaldehyde are able to oxidize it cyclically via 6‐phosphogluconate. This also holds true for Acetobacter methanolicus MB58. Generally methylotrophic bacteria oxidize formaldehyde via formate to CO2. Up to now only the presence of a membrane‐bound, dye‐mediated formate dehydrogenase has been demonstrated in Acetobacter methanolicus MB58. In this paper evidence for the presence of an aldehyde dehydrogenase is provided which catalyzes the oxidation of formaldehyde by means of toluylene blue as an electron acceptor. Hence Acetobacter methanolicus MB58 possesses at least two routes for the dissimilation of formaldehyde to CO2.