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. 1969 Jul;99(1):216–221. doi: 10.1128/jb.99.1.216-221.1969

Divergent Metabolic Pathways for Propane and Propionate Utilization by a Soil Isolate1

J R Vestal a, Jerome J Perry a
PMCID: PMC249990  PMID: 5802607

Abstract

The metabolism of propane and propionate by a soil isolate (Brevibacterium sp. strain JOB5) was investigated. The presence of isocitrate lyase in cells grown on isopropanol, acetate, or propane and the absence of this inducible enzyme in n-propanol- and propionate-grown cells suggested that propane is not metabolized via C-terminal oxidation. Methylmalonyl coenzyme A mutase and malate synthase are constitutive in this organism. The incorporation of 14CO2 into pyruvate accumulated during propionate utilization suggests that propionate is metabolized via the methyl-malonyl-succinate pathway. These results were further substantiated by radiorespirometric studies with propionate-1-14C, -2-14C, and -3-14C as substrate. Propane -2-14C was shown, by unlabeled competitor experiments, to be oxidized to acetone; acetone and isopropanol are oxidized in this organism to acetol. Cleavage of acetol to acetate and CO2 would yield the inducer for the isocitrate lyase present in propane-grown cells.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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