Epoxidation of gaseous alkenes by aRhodococcus sp.

Utilisation of C2–C4 gaseous hydrocarbons and isoprene by microorganisms

“…Separation of the growth of the co‐metabolising organism and epoxide production phases in any process is required. For example, addition of propane to the epoxidation assay system for R. rhodochrous PNKb1 (propane‐grown resting cells oxidising propylene to propylene oxide) inhibited epoxide formation, confirming that propane and propylene were competing for a common oxygenase 174. As in many other processes where the product is directly derived by enzyme action, inhibition of the enzyme by accumulating product can be a problem, especially in the case of inherently toxic epoxides.…”

The genus Rhodococcus

“…Rhodococci are often isolated from environments where hydrocarbons are present. Some strains are able to grow using gaseous hydrocarbons (such as propane, butane and acetylene) as a sole carbon source (Woods and Murrell 1990;Ivshina et al 1994;Young and McFarlane 1994;Rosner et al 1997). Detection or quantification of rhodococci able to oxidize gaseous alkanes in soil or groundwater could be indicative of the presence of subterranean hydrocarbon deposits and thus be of use in oil prospecting (Ashraf et al 1994).…”

“…A range of other potentially useful transformations using Rhodococcus cells or enzymes has been described. Woods and Murrell (1990) report the transformation of gaseous alkenes into epoxides by a Rhodococcus culture and epoxides are of use in ferro electric liquid crystals (Kieslich 1991). A novel and efficient biotransformation producing sec-cedrenol, a compound with potential medical value, has been described (Takigawa et al 1993).…”