Catabolism of trimethylamine by a marine bacterium,Pseudomonas NCMB 1154

Macerated suspensions of Pseudomonas NCMB 1154, grown on trimethylamine as sole nitrogen source, cause the stepwise demethylation of trimethylamine, with the production of ammonia and the occurrence of dimethylamine and methylamine as transient intermediates. The initial demethylation involves a glucose activated, non-oxidative rupture of the methyl-amino linkage, is relatively specific for methyl groups, and is partially inhibited by ATP. The first methyl group is oventually oxidised, but only by whole cells, after removal from the amine molecule. The second and third demethylations involve oxidative rupture of the methyl-amino linkages, with the production of formaldehyde, are less specific with respect to the alkyl groups, are glucose activated, but are not inhibited by ATP. The third and final demethylation reaction is partially inhibited by semi-carbazide.