Abstract
Various bacterial species, both Gram-negative and Gram-positive, were found to produce the volatile hydrocarbon isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene). Out of the tested cultures, Bacillus produced the most isoprene. The production of isoprene from bacteria was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Media and growth effects on isoprene production were investigated: growth in rich media led to higher levels of isoprene than growth in minimal media, and highest isoprene emission rates were seen in log-phase cultures. Temperature profiles for bacterial isoprene production showed an optimum of 45°C and were suggestive of an enzymatic mechanism for isoprene formation.
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Kuzma, J., Nemecek-Marshall, M., Pollock, W.H. et al. Bacteria produce the volatile hydrocarbon isoprene. Current Microbiology 30, 97–103 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00294190
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00294190