title: Biodegradation of a high molecular weight aliphatic ether--indications of an unusual biodegradation pathway.
abstract: An aliphatic ether (1-phytanyl-1-octadecanyl-ether) of high molecular weight was used as a sole carbon source in degradation experiments with different aerobic bacteria. The enriched culture B5, obtained from fuel contaminated soils, was able to degrade the substance for more than 90%. A culture of Rhodococcus ruber was similarly effective. Detailed investigation of the metabolites allowed us to characterize an unusual degradation pathway via a mid-chain oxidation mechanism ('internal oxidative pathway'). Obviously, formation of intermediate alkenes mainly at the unbranched side chain was a prerequisite for bacterial degradation of the added substrate. Degradation proceeded - in spite of the usually preferred terminal oxidation - via oxidation of the internal double bond and was followed by an ester cleavage. In turn, a series of alcohols was formed which were subsequently oxidized to the respective carboxylic acids and were further metabolized via the normal beta-oxidation pathway.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biogeochemie und Meereschemie, Universität Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jenisch-Anton
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mikolajczak
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabenstein
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klindworth
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Michaelis
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004987:Ethers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000378:metabolism; D012240:Rhodococcus / Q000378:metabolism; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D004987:Ethers