Partial conversion of cinnamic acid into styrene by growing cultures and cell-free extracts of the yeast Cryptococcus elinovii.

Cultures of Cryptococcus elinovii CBS 7051 grown at the expense of cinnamic acid as the sole source of carbon and energy partially converted this substrate into styrene. The latter is toxic and eventually kills the culture. Cell-free extracts of cultures grown on cinnamic acid produced styrene from cinnamate. Other basidiomycetous yeasts tested did not produce styrene from cinnamic acid.