MICROBIAL METABOLISM OF CARBAMATES II. Streptomyces nitrificans

Abstract

The soil actinomycete S. nitrificans produces nitrite from urethan in Warburg expts. with non-proliferating cell material and in growth expts. with n-propyl, n-butyl, ethyl-N-methyl, and ethyl-N-ethyl carbamates. Under conditions of the expts., chemical contamination was not responsible for the nitrite formed. The findings are discussed in terms of the mammalian metabolism of urethan and of microbial nitrification.