Morpholine is a common organic synthesis reactant used in many industries ranging from petroleum refining to nuclear power generation. It is also a common component of organic syntheses of many pharmaceuticals. Worldwide morpholine production is estimated at nearly 25,000 tons per year. Preliminary studies of morpholine tumorogenesis have indicated that it is associated with increased tumor formation, but this has not been conclusively proven. Otherwise, morpholine exhibits the same accute exposure symptoms as many other caustic industrial chemicals.
Morpholine degradation is completed primarily by the Mycobacterium genus. Many different species of Mycobacterium have been shown to degrade morpholine via a shared group of degradation reactions for cyclic amines. The characterization of these reactions has been assayed by direct means but with little information about the enzymes involved in the reactions (Combourieu et al., 1998).
The following is a text-format morpholine pathway map. Organisms which can initiate the pathway are given, but other organisms may also carry out later steps. Follow the links for more information on compounds or reactions. This map is also available in graphic (4kb) format.
Morpholine
Mycobacterium aurum M01
and others
|
| cytochrome p450
| monooxygenase
|
v
2-Hydroxymorpholine
|
|
| cytochrome p450
| monooxygenase
|
v
2-(2-Aminoethoxy)acetaldehyde
|
|
| 2-(2-aminoethoxy)acetaldehyde
| aldehyde dehydrogenase
|
v
2-(2-Aminoethoxy)acetate
|
|
v A
|
|
v
Diglycolate
|
|
| diglycolate
| dehydrogenase
|
v
Glycolate + Glyoxylate
| |
| |
| |
| |
v v
Intermediary Intermediary
Metabolism Metabolism
(KEGG) (KEGG)
Page Author(s): James E. Nogler, Luke Kane
March 17, 2009 Contact Us
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