Genetic basis of long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbon biosynthesis in bacteria. Final technical report, July 7, 1981-January 6, 1983
A variety of Micrococcus species, some related Arthrobacter, and Pseudomonas maltophilia are among the few bacteria which produce significant quantities of long chain aliphatic hydrocarbons. It was the purpose of this investigation to initiate studies aimed at understanding the genetic basis of aliphatic hydrocarbon production. Results have shown that some strains of several of the Micrococcus species carry plasmids, but they appear not to be associated with hydrocarbon production. Clearly, plasmids are not required for hydrocarbon biosynthesis, as many plasmidless strains produce large quantities of hydrocarbons with normal species-specific profiles. This is the first report on the occurrence of plasmids in Micrococcus species such as M. roseus, M. varians, M. kristinae, M. agilis, M. nishinomiyaensis, and unnamed, nonhuman primate Micrococcus spp. It is also the first report on aliphatic hydrocarbon production in M. agilis and the above nonhuman primate species. Although hydrocarbon production is not specifically under plasmid control, micrococcal plasmids may be able to serve as vectors for cloned hydrocarbon biosynthesis genes and ultimately used in the genetic engineering of this important group of organisms. For this reason, we initiated studies on the nucleotide sequence relationships, restriction enzyme digestion, and marking of several of the more interesting plasmids. Results have indicated that within species some plasmids share considerable nucleotide sequence homology. It is recommended that future investigations on these organisms should focus on unraveling the hydrocarbon biosynthetic pathway(s), isolating and characterizing the various enzymes involved with hydrocarbon biosynthesis, isolating and cloning the various chromosomal genes controlling these enzymes, and exploring genetic transfer (exchange) systems. Expression of micrococcal hydrocarbon genes in other organisms should also be evaluated.
- Research Organization:
- North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh (USA). Dept. of Genetics
- DOE Contract Number:
- AS09-81ER10966
- OSTI ID:
- 6221940
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/10966-1; ON: DE83012799
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
09 BIOMASS FUELS
ALKANES
BIOSYNTHESIS
BACTERIA
PLASMIDS
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
MICROCOCCUS
PSEUDOMONAS
RECOMMENDATIONS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
DATA
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
MICROORGANISMS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SYNTHESIS
550700* - Microbiology
090122 - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)