Search for methanotrophic producers of exopolysaccharides

Bacteria that produce exopolysaccharides (EPS) and use methane as the only source of carbon were selected by studying a collection of methanotroph strains: Methylococcus capsulatus E 494, 874, and 3009; M. thermophils 111p, 112p, and 119p: Methylobacter ucrainicus 159 and 161; M. luteus 57v and 12b; Methylobacter sp, 100; Methylomonas rubra 15 sh and SK-32; Methylosinus trichosporium OV3b, OV5b, and 4e, M. sporium 5,12, A20d, and 90v; and Methylocystis parvus OVVP. Mesophilic methanotroph strains with the ribulose monophosphate way of Cl-compound assimilation synthesized EPS more actively than bacteria operating the serine cycle. The dynamics of EPS synthesis by methanotrophs during chemostat cultivation was studied.