Degradation of hydrocarbons by members of the genus Candida 3. Oxidative intermediates from 1-hexadecene and 1-heptadecene by Candida lipolytica.

Candida lipolytica (Phaff) was grown in a mineral-salts medium amended with either 1-hexadecene or 1-heptadecene as substrate. Intermediates of the same chain length as the substrate were isolated and identified by various analytical procedures. The following intermediates of 16 and 17 carbon atoms were identified: omega-unsaturated acids, omega-unsaturated primary and secondary alcohols, 1,2-epoxides, 1,2-diols, and 2-hydroxy acids. Based on the chemical structure of these compounds, three oxidative mechanisms are proposed for the degradation of long-chain 1-alkenes by this yeast: (i) methyl-group oxidation, (ii) double-bond oxidation, and (iii) subterminal oxidation.