Methanol metabolism of sulfate reducing bacteria

Methanol is an excellent substrate for microbial growth in many different environments. Anaerobic methanol degradation is well studied in methanogens and acetogens. However, methanol is not a known common substrate for sulfate-reducing bacteria. Only a few sulfate reducers are described to be able to utilize methanol, which include some Gram-negative (Desulfovibrio) and Gram-positive (Desulfotomaculum) bacteria. Recently, we performed a proteomics study, which revealed that Desulfotomaculum kuznetsovii possesses two methanol-degrading pathways: involving a methyltransferase system and a methanol dehydrogenase. We aim to further describe these pathways and to study the methanol metabolism of other methanol-utilizing sulfate-reducing bacteria, including the isolation of novel anaerobes from different environments (including extreme environments). This research is also of practical importance as sulfate-reducing bacteria can be exploited in sulfur biotechnology to remove sulfur and metals from waste streams.