The aerobic catabolism of isobutylene in Mycolicibacterium sp. ELW1

An aerobic bacterium, Mycolicibacterium sp. ELW1 (formerly Mycobacterium sp. ELW1) that utilizes isobutylene (2-methylpropene) as a sole source of carbon and energy was characterized. Multi-omics-based approaches revealed plasmid-borne genes responsible for isobutylene catabolism, including a Group 2 SDIMO and a cobalt/cobalamin-dependent mutase, similar to other MTBE and TBA-metabolizing bacteria. We have also successfully cured Mycolicibacterium sp. ELW1 of its only plasmid, pELW1-1, and sequenced this strain (hereby referred to as Mycolicibacterium sp. ELW1-p). Plasmid loss resulted in the inability to grow on isobutylene. Our results have been interpreted in terms of their impact on our understanding of the microbial metabolism of alkenes.