Biomaterial Database

Anaerobic toluene oxidation to benzyl alcohol and benzaldehyde in a denitrifying Pseudomonas strain. 1992

U Altenschmidt, and G Fuchs

Angewandte Mikrobiologie, University of Ulm, Germany.

The denitrifying Pseudomonas strain K172 was grown with a generation time of 6 h to a cell density of 0.4 g (dry weight) per liter with toluene and nitrate as substrates. We found that anaerobic cell suspensions oxidize [14C]toluene first to [14C]benzyl alcohol and subsequently to [14C]benzaldehyde. This proves that the methyl group of toluene is oxidized without molecular oxygen to a hydroxymethyl group.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009566	Nitrates	Inorganic or organic salts and esters of nitric acid. These compounds contain the NO3- radical.	Nitrate
D010084	Oxidation-Reduction	A chemical reaction in which an electron is transferred from one molecule to another. The electron-donating molecule is the reducing agent or reductant; the electron-accepting molecule is the oxidizing agent or oxidant. Reducing and oxidizing agents function as conjugate reductant-oxidant pairs or redox pairs (Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry, 1982, p471).	Redox,Oxidation Reduction
D011549	Pseudomonas	A genus of gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria widely distributed in nature. Some species are pathogenic for humans, animals, and plants.	Chryseomonas,Pseudomona,Flavimonas
D000693	Anaerobiosis	The complete absence, or (loosely) the paucity, of gaseous or dissolved elemental oxygen in a given place or environment. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Anaerobic Metabolism,Anaerobic Metabolisms,Anaerobioses,Metabolism, Anaerobic,Metabolisms, Anaerobic
D001547	Benzaldehydes	Compounds that consist of a benzene ring with a formyl group. They occur naturally in the seeds of many fruits and are used as FLAVORING AGENTS and fragrances, as well as precursors in pharmaceutical and plastics manufacturing.
D001592	Benzyl Alcohols	Alcohols derived from the aryl radical (C6H5CH2-) and defined by C6H5CHOH. The concept includes derivatives with any substituents on the benzene ring.	Phenylcarbinols,Phenylmethanols,Alcohols, Benzyl
D014050	Toluene	A widely used industrial solvent.
D019905	Benzyl Alcohol	A colorless liquid with a sharp burning taste and slight odor. It is used as a local anesthetic and to reduce pain associated with LIDOCAINE injection. Also, it is used in the manufacture of other benzyl compounds, as a pharmaceutic aid, and in perfumery and flavoring.	Benzenemethanol,Alcohol, Benzyl