Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2001-09-01

Degradation of 3-methylpyridine and 3-ethylpyridine by Gordonia nitida LE31.

J J Lee, S K Rhee, S T Lee

Index: Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67(9) , 4342-5, (2001)

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Abstract

Cells of Gordonia nitida LE31 grown on 3-methylpyridine degraded 3-ethylpyridine without a lag time and vice versa. Cyclic intermediates were not detected, but formic acid was identified as a metabolite. Degradation of levulinic acid was induced in cells grown on 3-methylpyridine and 3-ethylpyridine. Levulinic aldehyde dehydrogenase and formamidase activities were higher in cells grown on 3-methylpyridine and 3-ethylpyridine than in cells grown on acetate. These data indicate that 3-methylpyridine and 3-ethylpyridine were degraded via a new pathway involving C-2-C-3 ring cleavage.