Methylotrophs are capable of obtaining their carbon and ener…
Methylotrophs are capable of obtaining their carbon and energy needs from single carbon compounds such as methanol, an alcohol. They are found in numerous environments including on the surfaces of leaves, where they obtain methanol produced by plant cells as a result of various demethylation reactions and released via stomata. You set up an enrichment culture to look for methylotrophic bacteria capable of utilizing methanol from leaf samples around campus. You are pleased when you successfully isolate a species of methylotrophic bacteria! Upon further study, you realize the species oxidizes methanol (CH3OH) to formaldehyde (CH2O) and finally to CO2 in order to produce ATP via an electron transport chain, and also uses a pathway known as the serine cycle to produce multi-carbon compounds by combining formaldehyde with CO2. Based upon these metabolic approaches, your species would be best described as a ______.