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Abstract
Summary: Five yeast strains capable of utilizing CH4 as the sole energy source for growth have been isolated using selective enrichments for methanotrophic micro-organisms. One of the pure cultures was selected for single-cell isolations and antibiotic screening to verify more rigorously the purity of the methanotrophic yeast cultures. Examination of the ultrastructure of this isolate confirmed its eukaryotic nature. The rates of CH4 oxidation by the isolates were determined by assaying whole cell suspensions for CH4-dependent oxygen consumption in an oxygen electrode and by measuring the conversion of 14CH4 to 14CO2 and incorporation of 14C into cellular material by whole cells. Characterization of the isolates suggests that four different species of yeast have been obtained that are capable of utilizing CH4
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