Regiospecific internal desaturation of aliphatic compounds by a mutant Rhodococcus strain

Abstract

A mutant Rhodococcus strain lacking the ability to utilize 1- chlorohexadecane was found to cis-desaturate aliphatic compounds, such as 1- chlorohexadecane, n-hexadecane, and heptadecanonitrile, yielding corresponding products with a double bond mainly at the ninth carbon from the terminal methyl groups. A new oxidative pathway involving the cis- desaturation step was suggested for alkane utilization by Rhodococcus spp.