This invention relates to a recombinant Pichia pastoris formate dehydrogenase (FDH) enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of formate to carbon dioxide and the simultaneous reduction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to its reduced form (NADH). Also related are isolated nucleic acids encoding P. pastoris FDH polypeptides, and fragments and variants thereof, as well as vectors and host cells comprising these nucleic acids. Further related are isolated, recombinant P. pastoris FDH polypeptides, and fragments and variants thereof, and antibodies that specifically bind to P. pastoris FDH polypeptides, fragments, or variants. The invention also relates to methods of obtaining isolated P. pastoris FDH nucleic acids, polypeptides, and antibodies, and methods of using P. pastoris FDH in various reactions for industrial or pharmaceutical applications.