This pathway was contributed by Jennifer Seffernick and Jingfeng Feng , University of Minnesota and updated with information provided by Bettina Rosner, Dow AgroSciences. Acetylene can polymerize exothermically, leading to deflagration.
Acetylene is relatively nontoxic and has been used as an anesthetic.
Inhalation of acetylene can be hazardous because of its action as a simple asphyxiant. Acetylene is also well known for its inhibitory properties and its interactions with microbial processes such as nitrogen fixation, nitrous oxide reduction, ammonium oxidation, methanogenesis and alkane oxidation. The acetylene hydratase reaction can also be carried out by the strict anaerobe, Pelobacter acetylenicus . The following is a text-format Acetylene pathway map. Organisms which can initiate the pathway are given, but the other organisms may also carry out later steps.