Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026

A Toolkit to Enable Hydrocarbon Conversion in Aqueous Environments
Published on: October 2, 2012
Induced heat resistance in Rhodococcus strains via alkane phase translocation in aqueous-alkane 2-phase cultures
Noriyuki Iwabuchi1, Yuki Tsuchiya2, Tomoko Aizawa-Urai3
1Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Department of Applied Biological Science, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
Abstract:
We reported previously that approximately 70% of Rhodococcus strains translocate and grow well in the alkane phase of a 2-phase aqueous-alkane culture. In addition, we recently demonstrated that Rhodococcus strains are capable of growth in alkanes and that they utilize the dissolved oxygen present in the alkane phase. In this study, we observed that some of the cells remained viable even after boiling, suggesting that cells translocated into the alkane phase exhibit increased heat resistance. To clarify this phenomenon, we assessed the heat-resistance of rhodococcal cells. Findings showed that the cells that translocated into alkanes were capable of growth on agar plates even after heat treatment. LIVE/DEAD staining confirmed that a subset of the cells survived heat treatment, whereas those grown without alkanes did not exhibit this response. These results suggest that rhodococcal cells grown in the presence of alkanes became more heat-resistant than those grown without hydrophobic liquids.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Other Stress Responses in Bacteria
Hyperthermophilic Bacteria
Diversity of Archaea III
Diversity of Archaea IV

