methylocystaceae methylocystaceae the methylocystaceae are a family of bacteria that are capable of obtaining carbon and energy from methane. such bacteria are called methanotrophs, and in particular the methylocystaceae comprise the type ii methanotrophs, which are structurally and biochemically distinct from the methylococcaceae or type i methanotrophs. methylocystaceae scientific classification domain: bacteria phylum: pseudomonadota class: alphaproteobacteria order: hyphomicrobiales family: methylocystaceaebowman 2006 genera albibacter doronina et al. 2001 chenggangzhangella yang et al. 2016 hansschlegelia ivanova et al. 2010 methylocystis (ex whittenbury et al. 1970) bowman et al. 1993 methylopila doronina et al. 1998 methylosinus (ex whittenbury et al. 1970) bowman et al. 1993 synonyms "methylopilaceae" beck et al. 2015 in this family methane is oxidized to form formaldehyde, which is assimilated by the serine pathway. this involves combining formaldehyde and glycine to form serine, which may be converted into glyceraldehyde and thus into other organic molecules. they can also fix nitrogen, like many other members of the order hyphomicrobiales. the cells contained paired internal membranes which are arranged towards their periphery.