| Acetone and epoxypropane are intermediates of bacterial propane and propylene metabolism, respectively. Short-chain (C2-C4) alkane and alkene-utilizing bacteria are a potential source of industrial and commercial applications that relate to biodegradation, bioremediation, biocatalysis, and other technologies. In this regard, both the whole organisms and the enzymes of their unique metabolic pathways have biotechnological utilities. However, the enzymological understanding of bacterial short-chain alkane and alkene metabolism, that is the requisite foundation for some of these applications to become a reality, is very limited. Herein was the premise for this dissertation: to facilitate a greater understanding of the types of enzymes, their specificities, and mechanisms that take part in the transformation of the intermediates of bacterial short-chain alkane and alkene (more specifically propane and propylene) metabolism. This work has focused on the enzymes from two phylogenetic ally unrelated model organisms, Rhodococcus rhodochrous B-276, an alkane (and alkene)-oxidizing bacterium, and Xanthobacter strain Py2, an alkene-oxidizing bacterium. |
