title: Synthesis and characterization of anaerobic degradation biomarkers of n-alkanes via hydroxylation/carboxylation pathways.
abstract: Metabolite profiling is a powerful method in research on anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbons. Hydroxylation and carboxylation are proposed pathways in anaerobic degradation but very little direct evidence is available about metabolites and signature biomarkers. 2-Acetylalkanoic acid is a potential signature metabolite because of its unique and specific structure among possible intermediates. A procedure for the synthesis of four homologues with various carbon chain lengths was proposed and the characteristics of 2-acetyl- alkanoic acid esters were investigated using four derivatization processes, namely methyl, ethyl, n-butyl and trimethylsilyl esterification. Four intermediate fragments observed were at m/z 73 + 14n, 87 + 14n, 102 + 14n (n = 1, 2 and 4 for methyl, ethyl and n-butyl ester, respectively) and [M - 42]+ for three of the derivatization methods. For silylation, characteristic ions were observed at m/z 73, 117, [M - 42](+) and [M - 55](+). These are basic and significant data for the future identification of potential intermediates of the hydroxylation and carboxylation pathways in hydrocarbon degradation.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Institute of Applied Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China. zhoujing123@mail.ecust.edu.cn.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Zhou
authors: State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Institute of Applied Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China. bianxinyu@mail.ecust.edu.cn.
authors: Xin-Yu
authors: XY
authors: Bian
authors: State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Institute of Applied Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China. leizhou@ecust.edu.cn.
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Zhou
authors: State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Institute of Applied Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China and Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China. smmbadinga@ecust.edu.cn.
authors: Serge Maurice
authors: SM
authors: Mbadinga
authors: State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Institute of Applied Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China. meor@ecust.edu.cn.
authors: Shi-Zhong
authors: SZ
authors: Yang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Institute of Applied Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China. ljf@ecust.edu.cn.
authors: Jin-Feng
authors: JF
authors: Liu
authors: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, PR China. jdgu@hkucc.hku.hk.
authors: Ji-Dong
authors: JD
authors: Gu
authors: State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Institute of Applied Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China and Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, Shanghai 200237, PR China. bzmu@ecust.edu.cn.
authors: Bo-Zhong
authors: BZ
authors: Mu
mesh_terms: D000473:Alkanes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006900:Hydroxylation; D013058:Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D015415:Biomarkers