Catalyzes the oxidation of methanol to yield formaldehyde. While the in vivo electron acceptor is not known, N,N-dimethyl-4-nitrosoaniline (NDMA) can serve this function in vitro and is reduced to 4-(hydroxylamino)-N,N-dimethylaniline. It is also able to use ethanol and formaldehyde with an activity comparable to methanol, and has a weak activity with methylamine as substrate. A + methanol = AH2 + formaldehyde Homodecamer. Constitutively expressed, with a significant increase of induction in the presence of methanol. Cells lacking this gene do not grow on methanol. Belongs to the iron-containing alcohol dehydrogenase family.