Studies on the Utilization of Hydrocarbons by Microorganisms

Abstract

It is well known that a good many microorganisms can utilize hydrocarbons as a sole carbon source. We have as yt little information, however, as to what kinds of intermediate or end products are produced by the microbial dissimilation of hydrocarbons. Above all, the formation of amino acids from hydrocarbons has not been reported. We have isolated many strains of microorganisms from soil samples by selective culture techniques in a medium containing kerosene and mineral salts, in order to examine if the products of economical value such as amino acids, organic acids, fatty acids, steroids, nucleic acids and their related compounds, can be produced by those microorganisms. Shaking cultures of those microorganisms were carried out in the medium containing 3.5% kerosene, 3.5% liquid paraffin and mineral salts (K2HPO4 0.25%; MgSO4·7H2O 0.1%; NH4MO8 0.5% or urea 0.3%); we found that 55 strains out of 127 strains tested produced amino acids in their broths, after 4 days cultivation at 26.5°C. The kinds and maxi...