Abstract
Summary: A degradation pathway for the acetylenic compound 3-butyn-1-ol by a bacterium showing strong resemblance to the physiologically well characterized Pseudomonas AM1 is presented. Enzyme studies revealed that the pathway of 3-butyn-1-ol metabolism involves an initial oxidation of the alcohol group by a phenazine methosulphate dependent alcohol dehydrogenase. Subsequently, the aldehyde is probably oxidized to yield 3-butynoic acid. The latter product is hydrated in the absence of cofactors to give acetoacetate which, in turn, is further degraded via acetoacetyl-CoA to acetyl-CoA. The inducible hydration reaction was catalysed by a nonspecific enzyme; hydration of propynoic acid resulted in the formation of malonic semialdehyde.