BACTERIAL OXIDATION OF PROPANE

The bacterial metabolism of propane and the pathway(s) involved are po orly understood, as the relative importance of terminal versus subterm inal oxidation of propane, via propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol, respective ly, is still unclear. In the case of bacteria, the ability to oxidize propane appears to be confined mainly to the Gram-positive Corynebacte rium-Nocardia-Mycobacterium-Rhodococcus complex. Studies on propane ox idation have been hampered by a lack of firm enzymological data; for e xample, to date there are no reports of a purified propane oxygenase s ystem. However, oxygenase activity has been confirmed by the productio n of propan-1-ol and/or propan-2-ol, and more recently by the co-oxida tion of propene to 1,2-epoxypropane in cell extracts of propane-grown cells. Here, we review the use of genetic, biochemical and immunologic al techniques to assess the role(s) of terminal and subterminal oxidat ion in the metabolism of propane by Rhodococcus rhodochrous PNKb1 and present a general overview of the topic.