Utilization of 1-chloromethylsilatrane by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa

Abstract The imperfect yeast, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa utilized nitrogen of 1-chloromethylsilatrane (CMS) as a sole nitrogen source when grown on glucose, glycerol, methanol, ethanol and succinate. Under such conditions and at concentrations from 0.45 to 4.5 mM, CMS was a growth-limiting factor. Atomic absorption spectrometry revealed the accumulation of silicon compounds in the cultural liquid which were chloroform-insoluble in contrast to CMS. The following pathway of the partial decomposition of CMS is propoposed: CMS → chloromethylsilanethryol → bis(chloromethyldisiloxane) tetraol.