Methanol is the smallest compound in the class of alcohols. It is abundant in nature as result from the degradation of plant material or interaction of CO2 and H2 in deep subsurface environments. In nature it serves as substrate for a multitude of microorganisms. This project aims to investigate the so far poorly studied methanol metabolism of sulphate reducing bacteria, and their potential competition/interaction for methanol with other metabolic groups. For this physiological studies will be combined with large-scale genomic analysis and biochemical characterization of the methanol-degrading enzymes.