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 can also use various other primary alcohols, polyols and formaldehyde. In addition, MNO is able to produce methylformate from methanol plus formaldehyde, and possesses a formaldehyde dismutase and a NADH-dependent formaldehyde reductase activity. A + methanol = AH2 + formaldehyde Inhibited by azide and hydrazine. Optimum pH is between 4.5 and 5. The MNO activity increases with temperature up to 55 degrees Celsius. Homodecamer. By methanol and ethanol. Cells lacking this gene are unable to grow methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol and butan-1-ol, but are still able to grow on formaldehyde. Belongs to the iron-containing alcohol dehydrogenase family.