HYDROCARBON METABOLISM BY BREVIBACTERIUM ERYTHROGENES: NORMAL AND BRANCHED ALKANES

Branched and straight chain hydrocarbons are metabolized by Brevibacterium erythrogenes by means of two distinct pathways. Normal alkanes (e.g. n-pentadecane) are degraded, after terminal oxidation, by the beta-oxidation system operational in fatty acid catabolism. Branched alkanes like pristane (2.6.10,14-tetramethylpentadecane) and 2-methylundecane are degraded as dicarboxylic acids, which also undergo beta-oxidation. Pristane-derived intermediates are observed to accumulate, with time, as a series of dicarboxylic acid pathway is not observed in the presence of normal alkanes. Release of (14)CO2 from l-(14) c-pristane is delayed, or entirely inhibited, in the presence of n-hexadecane, while CO2 release from n-hexadecane remains unaffected. These results suggest an inducible dicarboxylic acid pathway for degradation of branched chain alkanes.

• Corporate Authors:

  Rutgers University, New Brunswick

  Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology
  New Brunswick, NJ  United States  08903
• Authors:
  • Pirnik, M P
  • Atlas, R M
  • Bartha, R
• Publication Date: 1974-2-7

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 35 p.
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: 4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Biodeterioration; Deterioration; Hydrocarbons; Metabolism; Oils; Water quality management
• Old TRIS Terms: Hydrocarbon metabolism; Oil degradation
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00051983
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Rutgers University, New Brunswick
• Report/Paper Numbers: Tech Rpt
• Contract Numbers: N00014-67A-0115-0005
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 9 1974 12:00AM