DETECTION OF METHYLOTROPHS IN NATURAL SAMPLES BY AMPLIFICATION OF A FRAGMENT OF THE MOXF GENE

A method for detecting methylotrophic microorganisms with the help of the polymerase chain reaction was developed. Two primers were synthesi zed, designed on the basis of comparing conserved sequences of the gen es encoding the large subunit of methanol dehydrogenase. The developed system was tested with six strains of methylotrophic bacteria and wit h natural samples collected in the Bunger Hills oasis of eastern Antar ctica. The results suggest the possibility of applying the developed m ethod for qualitative detection of methylotrophs in natural samples.