FIG. 7.

Proposed pathway for the anaerobic biodegradation of the hydrocarbon ethylcyclopentane by a sulfate-reducing enrichment culture. In the following list of depicted compounds, those that have been identified as TMS esters in culture supernatants are in boldface. A, ethylcyclopentane; B, ethylcyclopentylsuccinic acid; C, ethylcyclopentylmethylmalonic acid; D, ethylcyclopentylpropionic acid; E, ethylcyclopentanecarboxylic acid; F, ethylcyclopent-1-enecarboxylic acid; G, 2-hydroxyethylcyclopentanecarboxylic acid; H, 2-oxoethylcyclopentanecarboxylic acid; I, β-ethyladipic acid; J, ethylsuccinic acid; K, propylmalonic acid; L, valerate; M, propionate; N, methylmalonic acid; O, succinic acid; P, fumarate. Dashed lines indicate alternate possible bioconversions.