Aromatic acid metabolism in <i>Methylobacterium extorquens</i> reveals interplay between methylotrophic and heterotrophic pathways.

ABSTRACT: Efforts toward microbial conversion of lignin to value-added products face many challenges because lignin's methoxylated aromatic monomers release toxic C₁ byproducts such as formaldehyde. The ability to grow on methoxylated aromatic acids (e.g., vanillic acid) has been identified in certain clades of methylotrophs, bacteria characterized by their unique ability to tolerate and metabolize high concentrations of formaldehyde. Here, we use a phyllosphere methylotroph isolate, Methylobacterium extorquens SLI 505, as a model to identify the fate of formaldehyde during methylotrophic growth on vanillic acid. M. extorquens SLI 505 displays concentration-dependent growth phenotypes on vanillic acid without concomitant formaldehyde accumulation. We conclude that M. exto

SUBMITTER: Govindaraju AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12542667 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature