Simultaneous Metabolism of Chloro- and Methyl-Aromatic Compounds by Selected Bacterial Strains
Abstract
Microorganisms are frequently able to degrade anthropogenic materials using pathways that evolved for the assimilation of related naturally-occurring compounds. Complications can arise, however, during the metabolism of mixtures when incompatible intermediates are formed from different components. The breakdown of chloro- and methyl-aromatics, for example, produces catechols which are oxidized differently: chlorocatechols are normally cleaved by ortho fission and methylcatechols by meta fission. If both systems act simultaneously, suicide substrates or dead-end metabolites are usually formed. Nevertheless, bacteria differ in their, ability to cope with such mixtures. A unique bacterium, Pseudomonas cepacia MB2 was isolated by selective enrichment on 2- methylbenzoate, yet was also able to fortuitously utilize 3-chloro-2- methylbenzoate as a sole carbon source. This strain is unique in its ability to utilize an aromatic acid containing both a methyl and chloro substituent via the meta-fission pathway without the production of suicidal products.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 27, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA267689
Entities
People
- Dennis D. Focht
Organizations
- University of California, Riverside