Isolated methanotroph Methylotuvimicrobium percolatum

Halophilic methane-oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs) cannot only assimilate global warming gas methane but produce a valuable product, the compatible solute ectoine. However, the exploration of halophilic methanotrophs and the study of ectoine production has been limited. This study thus isolated Gammaproteobacteria Type I methanotroph Methylotuvimicrobium percolatum, a halophilic methanotroph, from activated sludge in a brackish water environment. The complete genome of the isolate contains the ectABCask genes encoding ectoine biosynthesis, suggesting the capability of biosynthesizing ectoine. Ectoine was genuinely produced by M. percolatum. This study expanded the fundamental knowledge on the effective use of methane through ectoine production using halophilic methane-oxidizing bacteria.