Metabolism ofQuaternary CarbonCompounds: 2,2- Dimethylheptane andTertbutylbenzene

ofhydrocarbon substrate were then added to a filterpaper dish in the lid. The two strains were fre-quently plated for reisolation on Difco nutrientagar.For manometric experiments andlarge-scale in-cubations with resting cells, the organisms wereculturedonthesamemineral salts mediumsupple-mentedwithafewdrops of2,2-dimethylheptane ortertbutylbenzene and with 0.2% (wt/vol) sodiumglutamate. Preliminary experiments showed thatglutamatedidnotrepress the synthesisofenzymesinvolved in benzene ring fission. The cells wereharvestedafter48hofincubation, washedtwiceby