FIG. 1.

GC analysis of reaction products of MTBE oxidation by propane-grown cells of M. vaccae JOB5. The chromatogram in panel A shows the chromatographic separation of TBA, MTBE, and TBF and the relative response of the flame ionization detector for aqueous samples (2 μl) taken from reaction vials incubated at 30°C. The vials (10 ml) contained buffer (1 ml) and 1 μmol of each compound. Panel B shows the accumulation of TBF and TBA when propane-grown cells (0.83 mg of total protein) were incubated with MTBE (1 μmol) for 1 h at 30°C, as described in Materials and Methods. Panel C shows the effect of acetylene (10% [vol/vol], gas phase) on the oxidation of MTBE and the production of TBA and TBF under the conditions described for panel B.