Microbial metabolism of cyclic hydrocarbons and related compounds.

The utilization of alicyclic hydrocarbons by microorganisms will be reviewed as well as substituted and unsubstituted cyclic hydrocarbons. The topics discussed include: the enzymes involved in biodegradation of cycloparaffins and probable intemediates involved in the metabolism of cycloparaffinic hydrocarbons; the role of cooxidation in the utilization of cycloalkanes as well as the accumulation of intermediates of cycloalkane metabolism via this technique; the oxidase (hydroxylase) involved in cycloalkane biodegradation; the aromatization of the cycloalkane ring in the aerobic degradation of cyclohexane and the reduction of benzoate in anaerobic metabolism of heterotrophs and photosynthetic bacteria; the incorporation of cycloalkanes with n-alkyl side chains into cellular lipids; and the biodegradation of terpenes and related compounds by microorganisms.