Isolation and characterization of the facultative methylotroph Mycobacterium ID-Y.

A facultatively methylotrophic Mycobacterium was isolated from Cleveland Harbor, Ohio, USA. The isolate, designated ID-Y, used a wide range of carbon and energy sources including methane and several other hydrocarbons. It displayed a growth cycle from rod-shaped exponential-phase cells, with many cell pairs exhibiting V-formation, to cocco-bacillary stationary-phase cells. A fixation technique involving glutaraldehyde/alcian blue resulted in the observation of a three-layered cell wall. Isolate ID-Y has an ultrastructure similar to that of other mycobacteria, particularly Mycobacterium phlei and Mycobacterium flavum, which is presently classified as a Xanthobacter species.