Methylocystaceae
Methylocystaceae are a family of bacteria that use methane as their carbon and energy source. They are methanotrophs, specifically type II methanotrophs, which are distinct from the type I methanotrophs in the Methylococcaceae group.
How they process methane:
- They oxidize methane to formaldehyde.
- Formaldehyde is incorporated into biomass via the serine pathway, by combining formaldehyde with glycine to form serine, which can be turned into other organic compounds.
Other features:
- Many members can fix nitrogen (convert atmospheric N2 into a usable form).
- The cells have paired internal membranes arranged toward the cell periphery.
Taxonomy and notable genera:
- Domain: Bacteria; Phylum: Pseudomonadota; Class: Alphaproteobacteria; Order: Hyphomicrobiales; Family: Methylocystaceae.
- Genera include Albibacter, Doronina et al. 2001; Chenggangzhangella; Hansschlegelia; Methylocystis; Methylopila; Methylosinus. A synonym used by some authors is Methylopilaceae.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 01:23 (CET).