Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Visualizing Methane-Cycling Microbial Dynamics in Coastal Wetlands
Published on: January 31, 2025
Genome sequence of the obligate methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium strain OB3b
Lisa Y Stein1, Sukhwan Yoon, Jeremy D Semrau
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW405 Biological Sciences Centre, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada. lisa.stein@ualberta.ca
Abstract:
Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b (for "oddball" strain 3b) is an obligate aerobic methane-oxidizing alphaproteobacterium that was originally isolated in 1970 by Roger Whittenbury and colleagues. This strain has since been used extensively to elucidate the structure and function of several key enzymes of methane oxidation, including both particulate and soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) and the extracellular copper chelator methanobactin. In particular, the catalytic properties of soluble methane monooxygenase from M. trichosporium OB3b have been well characterized in context with biodegradation of recalcitrant hydrocarbons, such as trichloroethylene. The sequence of the M. trichosporium OB3b genome is the first reported from a member of the Methylocystaceae family in the order Rhizobiales.
Related Concept Videos
Microbes and Methanogenesis
Diversity of Archaea III
Three-Domain System of Life
Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes
Deep Sea Microbial Ecology
Modern Molecular Taxonomy

