INVESTIGATION OF MUTANTS OF METHYLOPHILUS-METHYLOTROPHUS WHICH ARE DEFECTIVE IN METHANOL OXIDATION

Five classes of mutants of Methylophilus methylotrophus which are defective in methanol oxidation (Mox-) have been isolated, partially characterized, and complemented using a Sau3A genomic library. Two classes of mutants were defective in production of the α subunit of methanol dehydrogenase, another two classes in the production of both the α subunit and cytochrome c(L), while the fifth class produced the α subunit, but did not contain an active methanol dehydrogenase, nor cytochrome c(L). The genes defective in these mutants were linked.