Bacteria produce the volatile hydrocarbon isoprene

• DOI: 10.1007/bf00294190
• Publication Date: 2004-10-06T07:27:19Z
• Authors: Jennifer Kuzma; Michele Nemecek-M...; Walter H. Pollock; Ray Fall
• Keywords: Isoprene; Bacterial growth

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 degrees C and were suggestive of an enzymatic mechanism for isoprene formation.