 Strains of "Paracoccus denitrificans" have been isolated from activated sludge that degrade a variety of methylated amines under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions; another strain is chemolithoautotrophically capable of degrading quaternary carbon compounds such as dimethylmalonate under denitrifying conditions.Some strains are capable of 'aerobic denitrification', the complete dissimilation of nitrate to dinitrogen (or nitrous oxide) under aerobic growth conditions.The microbe also can oxidize ammonia to nitrite while growth on organic energy sources, a process known as 'heterotrophic nitrification'.