The biochemical pathway for the breakdown of methyl cyanide (acetonitrile) in bacteria

[2-14C]Methyl cyanide (acetonitrile) is metabolized to citrate, succinate, fumarate, malate, glutamate, pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid and aspartate. Non-radioactive acetamide and acetate compete with 14C from methyl cyanide, and [2-14C]acetate and [2-14C]methyl cyanide are metabolized at similar rates,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemical journal 1976-08, Vol.158 (2), p.223-229
Main Authors: Firmin, J L, Gray, D O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetamides - metabolism
Acetates - metabolism
Acetonitriles - metabolism
Chromatography, Paper
Citric Acid Cycle
Models, Biological
Pseudomonas - metabolism
Sugar Phosphates - metabolism
Time Factors
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Summary:[2-14C]Methyl cyanide (acetonitrile) is metabolized to citrate, succinate, fumarate, malate, glutamate, pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid and aspartate. Non-radioactive acetamide and acetate compete with 14C from methyl cyanide, and [2-14C]acetate and [2-14C]methyl cyanide are metabolized at similar rates, giving identical products. This evidence, combined with the inhibitory effect of fluoroacetate and arsenite on methyl cyanide metabolism, indicates that the pathway is: methyl cyanide leads to acetamide leads to acetate leads to tricarboxylic acid-cycle intermediates. The pathway was investigated in a species of Pseudomonas (group III; N.C.I.B. 10477), but comparison of labelling patterns suggests that it also exists in several higher plants.
ISSN:0264-6021
0306-3283
1470-8728
DOI:10.1042/bj1580223