E. Lau, K. Gibson, R. Fall
May 1, 1980
Citations
0
Influential Citations
3
Citations
Journal
Current Microbiology
Abstract
The branched alkanoic acid, 3-methylvaleric acid (3-MVA), was used to test the effect of a β-methyl branch on short chain alkanoic acid biodegradability by various bacteria. Most of the bacteria tested were able to usen-valeric acid as sole carbon source but were unable to assimilate 3-MVA. Three bacterial strains capable of growth on 3-MVA are described here because they exemplify metabolism of the branched compound via different strategies.Pseudomonas citronellolis used a β-methyl activation sequence involving CO2 fixation, analogous to that seen in the isovalerate pathway. AMycobacterium sp. used an α-oxidation sequence to convert 3-MVA to 2-methyl-butyrate, which was then assimilated via part of the isoleucine pathway. AnArthrobacter sp. metabolized 3-MVA via ω-oxidation to produce 3-methylglutarate that was degraded through the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate pathway.