biostudies-literatureUnknown10(13)Dank AEthylene glycol (EG, 1,2-ethanediol) is a two-carbon dihydroxy alcohol that can be derived from fermentation of plant-derived xylose and arabinose and which can be formed during food fermentations. Here we show that <i>Propionibacterium freudenreichii</i> DSM 20271 is able to convert EG in anaerobic conditions to ethanol and acetate in almost equimolar amounts. The metabolism of EG led to a moderate increase of biomass, indicating its metabolism is energetically favourable. A proteomic analysis revealed EG induced expression of the <i>pdu</i>-cluster, which encodes a functional bacterial microcompartment (BMC) involved in the degradation of 1,2-propanediol, with the presence of BMCs confirmed using transmission electron microscopy. Cross-examination of the proteomes of 1,2-propanediol and Heliyone33444https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11255663biostudies-literatureEthylene glycol is metabolized to ethanol and acetate and induces expression of bacterial microcompartments in <i>Propionibacterium freudenreichii</i>.PMC11255663Liu YWen XBoeren SLin FAbee TWiersma ASmid EJDank ANotebaart RAfalseEthylene glycol is metabolized to ethanol and acetate and induces expression of bacterial microcompartments in <i>Propionibacterium freudenreichii</i>.Ethylene glycol (EG, 1,2-ethanediol) is a two-carbon dihydroxy alcohol that can be derived from fermentation of plant-derived xylose and arabinose and which can be formed during food fermentations. Here we show that <i>Propionibacterium freudenreichii</i> DSM 20271 is able to convert EG in anaerobic conditions to ethanol and acetate in almost equimolar amounts. The metabolism of EG led to a moderate increase of biomass, indicating its metabolism is energetically favourable. A proteomic analysis revealed EG induced expression of the <i>pdu</i>-cluster, which encodes a functional bacterial microcompartment (BMC) involved in the degradation of 1,2-propanediol, with the presence of BMCs confirmed using transmission electron microscopy. Cross-examination of the proteomes of 1,2-propanediol and 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jul2026-06-01T16:30:01.431Z2025-04-04T14:47:12.322ZS-EPMC112556633902760510.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33444