Metabolism of trans-2-Butene and Butane in Nocardia TB1

SUMMARY: A bacterium capable of growth on trans-2-butene was isolated from soil and identified as a Nocardia sp. The isolate also grew on propane, butane, pentane and hexane; gaseous and volatile 1-alkenes did not support growth. Intact cells grown on trans-2-butene or butane oxidized all n-alkanes, 1-alkenes, 2-alkenes and alcohols tested. Simultaneous adaptation studies, inhibitor experiments and measurements of enzyme activities in crude extracts indicated a degradative route of trans-2-butene via crotonic acid and of butane via butyric acid. The key enzymes in the proposed pathways were induced by growth on either trans-2-butene or butane. The induction of these enzymes and the substrate specificities of the enzymes suggest a relation between trans-2-butene and butane degradation.