Physiology of aliphatic hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms

Watkinson, R. J.; Morgan, Phil G.

doi:10.1007/bf00058828

Cited by 175 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…In this pathway, the reaction proceeds as follows: alkanes are first attacked at their terminal methyl group to yield the corresponding primary alcohols, which are further oxidized by alcohol dehydrogenases and aldehyde dehydrogenases to fatty acids. The fatty acids then enter β-oxidation (Watkinson and Morgan, 1990). Second is biterminal oxidation, in which the termini of the n -alkane undergo oxidation to the corresponding fatty acid without rupturing of the carbon chain.…”

Section: N-alkane Degradation Pathwaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural insights into diversity and n-alkane biodegradation mechanisms of alkane hydroxylases

Ji¹,

Mao²,

Wang³

et al. 2013

Front. Microbiol.

168

113

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Environmental microbes utilize four degradation pathways for the oxidation of n-alkanes. Although the enzymes degrading n-alkanes in different microbes may vary, enzymes functioning in the first step in the aerobic degradation of alkanes all belong to the alkane hydroxylases. Alkane hydroxylases are a class of enzymes that insert oxygen atoms derived from molecular oxygen into different sites of the alkane terminus (or termini) depending on the type of enzymes. In this review, we summarize the different types of alkane hydroxylases, their degrading steps, and compare typical enzymes from various classes with regard to their three-dimensional structures, in order to provide insights into how the enzymes mediate their different roles in the degradation of n-alkanes and what determines their different substrate ranges. Through the above analyzes, the degrading mechanisms of enzymes can be elucidated and molecular biological methods can be utilized to expand their catalytic roles in the petrochemical industry or in bioremediation of oil-contaminated environments.

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Section: N-alkane Degradation Pathwaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural insights into diversity and n-alkane biodegradation mechanisms of alkane hydroxylases

Ji¹,

Mao²,

Wang³

et al. 2013

Front. Microbiol.

168

113

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“…In A. hongdengensis A-11-3, we recently found that pristane selectively activates the expression of alkB1 , P450-3 and almA (Wang and Shao, 2012a). However, the metabolic pathways that mediate this activity are poorly understood, although they may involve the ω- or β-oxidation of the hydrocarbon molecule (Watkinson and Morgan, 1990). …”

Section: Degradation Pathways Of N-alkanesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enzymes and genes involved in aerobic alkane degradation

2013

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Alkanes are major constituents of crude oil. They are also present at low concentrations in diverse non-contaminated because many living organisms produce them as chemo-attractants or as protecting agents against water loss. Alkane degradation is a widespread phenomenon in nature. The numerous microorganisms, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, capable of utilizing alkanes as a carbon and energy source, have been isolated and characterized. This review summarizes the current knowledge of how bacteria metabolize alkanes aerobically, with a particular emphasis on the oxidation of long-chain alkanes, including factors that are responsible for chemotaxis to alkanes, transport across cell membrane of alkanes, the regulation of alkane degradation gene and initial oxidation.

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“…1E). Hydrocarbon degradation starts with three terminal oxidation steps to the corresponding alcohol, aldehyde, and acid, involving a monooxygenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and aldehyde dehydrogenase (34). These reactions take place outside the cyto-plasm to avoid toxicity of the aldehyde intermediates.…”

Section: Twin-arginine Motif and Secretion Of Overexpressed Phospholimentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the twin-arginine translocase on secretion of virulence factors, stress response, and pathogenesis

Ochsner

Snyder

Vasil

et al. 2002

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

189

226

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A novel secretion pathway originally found in plants has recently been discovered in bacteria and termed TAT, for ''twin-arginine translocation,'' with respect to the presence of an Arg-Arg motif in the signal sequence of TAT-secreted products. However, it is unknown whether the TAT system contributes in any way to virulence through the secretion of factors associated with pathogenesis or stress response. We found that the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces several virulence factors that depend on the TAT system for proper export to the periplasm, outer membrane, or extracellular milieu. We identified at least 18 TAT substrates of P. aeruginosa and characterized the pleiotropic phenotypes of a tatC deletion mutant. The TAT system proved essential for the export of phospholipases, proteins involved in pyoverdine-mediated ironuptake, anaerobic respiration, osmotic stress defense, motility, and biofilm formation. Because all these traits have been associated with virulence, we studied the role of TAT in a rat lung model. A tatC mutant did not cause the typical multifocal pulmonary abscesses and did not evoke a heavy inflammatory host response compared with wild type, indicating that tatC mutant cells are attenuated for virulence. Because the TAT apparatus is well conserved among important bacterial pathogens yet absent in mammalian cells, it represents a potential target for novel antimicrobial compounds.

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Physiology of aliphatic hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms

Cited by 175 publications

References 67 publications

Structural insights into diversity and n-alkane biodegradation mechanisms of alkane hydroxylases

Structural insights into diversity and n-alkane biodegradation mechanisms of alkane hydroxylases

Enzymes and genes involved in aerobic alkane degradation

Effects of the twin-arginine translocase on secretion of virulence factors, stress response, and pathogenesis

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