Methyl ketone formation during degradation of phenoxybutyric acid by Penicillium canescens SBUG-M 1139

Penicillium canescens SBUG-M 1139 was shown to be able to grow using phenox ybutyric acid as the sole carbon source. The rapid conversion of the phenox yalkanoic acid resulted in the formation of phenol, which was metabolized c ompletely. These reactions were accompanied by an accumulation of the methy l ketone phenoxypropan-2-one. Furthermore, during the metabolism of phenoxy butyric acid, 4-phenoxy-2,3-dehydrobutyric acid, 4-phenoxy-3-hydroxybutyric acid, phenoxy acetic acid, and phenoxypropan-2-ol accumulated in minor amo unts. Clearly, fungi can metabolize phenoxyalkanoic acids to produce methyl ketones in a manner analogous to that used for the conversion of short- or medium-chain fatty acids by fungi.