This study is the first demonstration that a diverse facultatively methylotrophic microbiota exists in some Antarctic locations. PCR amplification of genes diagnostic for methylotrophs was carried out with bacterial DNA isolated from 14 soil and sediment samples from ten locations on Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, Antarctica. Genes encoding the mxaF of methanol dehydrogenase, the fdxA for Afipia ferredoxin, the msmA of methanesulfonate monooxygenase, and the 16S rRNA gene of Methylobacterium were detected in all samples tested. The mxaF gene sequences corresponded to those of Hyphomicrobium, Methylobacterium, and Methylomonas. Over 30 pure cultures of methylotrophs were isolated on methanesulfonate, dimethylsulfone, or dimethylsulfide from ten Signy Island lakes. Some were identified from 16S rRNA gene sequences (and morphology) as Hyphomicrobium species, strains of Afipia felis, and a methylotrophic Flavobacterium strain. Antarctic environments thus contain diverse methylotrophic bacteria, growing on various C1-substrates, including C1-sulfur compounds.

中文翻译：

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从南极洲分子检测和分离能够与甲基化硫化合物一起生长的甲基营养细菌。

这项研究是第一个证明南极某些地区存在多种兼性甲基营养型微生物群。使用从南极南奥克尼群岛的西尼岛的十个地点的14个土壤和沉积物样品中分离出的细菌DNA进行诊断为甲基营养菌的基因的PCR扩增。在所有测试样品中均检测到了编码甲醇脱氢酶mxaF的基因，阿非菲亚铁氧还蛋白的fdxA，甲磺酸单加氧酶的msmA以及甲基杆菌的16S rRNA基因。mxaF基因序列对应于Hyphomicrobium，Methylobacterium和Methylomonas。从十个Signy Island湖泊中的甲磺酸盐，二甲基砜或二甲基硫醚中分离出30多种纯营养菌。从16S rRNA基因序列（和形态）中鉴定出一些细菌，如次要菌种，猫Afipia菌株和甲基营养型黄杆菌菌株。因此，南极环境包含各种甲基营养细菌，它们在各种C1基质（包括C1硫化合物）上生长。