Obligate Methylotroph Methylobacillus arboreus IvaT Synthesizes a Plant Hormone, Gibberellic Acid GA3

An obligate methylotroph Methylobacillus arboreus Iva(T) (VKM B-2590(T), CCUG 59684(T), DSM 23628(T)) is the first known aerobic methylotrophic bacterium capable of synthesis of the bioactive gibberellic acid GA(3). Primary separation and identification of gibberellic acid from the culture liquid of methanol-grown culture were carried out using thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The concentration and structure of the gibberellic acid GA(3) were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Biological activity of the isolated compound was confirmed by tests on sprouts of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).