DITERMINAL OXIDATION OF LONG-CHAIN ALKANES BY BACTERIA

Abstract

Kester, A. S. (The University of Texas, Austin) and J. W. Foster. Diterminal oxidation of long-chain alkanes by bacteria. J. Bacteriol. 85:859-869. 1963.-A corynebacterial organism capable of growing in mineral salts with individual pure alkanes as carbon sources produces a series of acids from the C(10)-C(14) alkanes. They have been isolated in pure form and identified as monoic, omega-hydroxy monoic, and dioic acids containing the same number of carbon atoms as the substrate alkane. Oxidation took place at both terminal methyl groups-"diterminal oxidation." Appropriate labeling experiments indicate that omega oxidation of fatty acids occurs in this organism and that an oxygenation with O(2) occurs.