[Cyclic pathway of formaldehyde oxidation in Pseudomonas oleovorans]

Operation of the dissimilatory hexulose phosphate cycle of formaldehyde oxidation in Pseudomonas oleovarans has been directly confirmed. Extracts of this typical facultative methylotroph catalyze the formation of 14CO2 from 14C-formaldehyde. The process depends on the presence of ribose-5-phosphate, NADP or NAD, and is linear in time. Oxidation of formaldehyde via formate to CO2 is of a minor importance in the energy metabolism of the methylotroph.