Physiological and regulatory mechanisms that allow the alkane-oxidizing bacterium Pseudomonas butanovora to consume C2 to C8 alkane substrates via butane monooxygenase (BMO) were examined. Striking differences were observed in response to even- versus odd-chain-length alkanes. Propionate, the downstream product of propane oxidation and of the oxidation of other odd-chain-length alkanes followin...

Propane conversion over alumina supported Pt and Rh (1 wt% metals loading) was examined under fuel rich conditions (C3H8:O2:He = 1:2.25:9) over the temperature range 450–650 C. Morphological characteristics of the catalyst materials were varied by calcining at selected temperatures between 500 and 1,200 C. X-ray diffraction and BET analysis showed the treatment generated catalyts metals with pa...

The evolutionary pressures that shaped the specificity and catalytic efficiency of enzymes can only be speculated. While directed evolution experiments show that new functions can be acquired under positive selection with few mutations, the role of negative selection in eliminating undesired activities and achieving high specificity remains unclear. Here we examine intermediates along the 'line...

The short chain, gaseous alkanes ethane, propane, n- and iso-butane are released in significant amounts into the atmosphere, where they contribute to tropospheric chemistry and ozone formation. Biodegradation of gaseous alkanes by aerobic microorganisms, mostly bacteria and fungi isolated from terrestrial environments, has been known for several decades. The first indications for short chain al...

A convenient approach for oxidation of structurally diverse alcohols has been developed using KMnO4 as oxidant agent in the presence of a catalytic amount of Al2O3 in aqueous acetonitrile. In this method various alcohols generally afforded the corresponding carbonyl compounds directly in good to high yield under ultrasound irradiation conditions. It shows that this kind of catalysis system is v...