Metabolism of 3-methylindole by a methanogenic consortium

Complete mineralization of 3-methylindole (3-MI) was done by a methanogenic 3-MI-degrading consortium derived from wetland soil. However, the consortium was unable to hydroxylate position 3 of oxindole and was unable to mineralize indole. This is evidence that the fermentation of 3-MI did not proceed through the oxindole-isatin pathway. The details of the reaction mechanism are still unknown, and more studies are required.