Biodegradation of 4-nitrotoluene by Pseudomonas sp. strain 4NT

• Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology 1993-07, Vol.59 (7), p.2239-2243
• Main Authors: Haigler, B.E, Spain, J.C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 450100 > Military Technology, Weaponry, & National Defense-- Chemical Explosions & Explosives; ACIDE BENZOIQUE; ACIDO BENZOICO; ACTIVIDAD ENZIMATICA; ACTIVITE ENZYMATIQUE; ALCOHOLES; ALCOOL; ALKYLATED AROMATICS; AROMATICS; BACTERIA; BIODEGRADACION; BIODEGRADATION; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS; Biotechnology; CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; COMPOSE ORGANOAZOTE; COMPUESTO ORGANICO DEL NITROGENO; DECOMPOSITION; DYES; Environment and pollution; ESTER; ESTERES; EXPLOSIVES; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HYDROCARBONS; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; MICROORGANISMS; MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; NITRO COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS 560300 > Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology; Oxidoreductases - metabolism; OXIDORREDUCTASAS; OXYDOREDUCTASE; POLLUTANTS; POLLUTION DU SOL; POLUCION DEL SUELO; PSEUDOMONAS; Pseudomonas - enzymology; Pseudomonas - metabolism; RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT; Soil Microbiology; SOL ANTHROPOGENE; SOLVENTS; Species Specificity; TIPOS ANTROPOGENICOS DE SUELOS; TOLUENE; Toluene - analogs & derivatives; Toluene - metabolism; TOLUENO
• ISSN: 0099-2240; 1098-5336
• DOI: 10.1128/AEM.59.7.2239-2243.1993

A strain of Pseudomonas spp. was isolated from nitrobenzene-contaminated soil on 4-nitrotoluene as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. The organism also grew on 4-nitrobenzyl alcohol, 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, and 4-nitrobenzoate. 4-Nitrobenzoate and ammonia were detected in the culture fluid of glucose-grown cells after induction with 4-nitrotoluene. Washed suspensions of 4-nitrotoluene- or 4-nitrobenzoate-grown cells oxidized 4-nitrotoluene, 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, 4-nitrobenzyl alcohol, and protocatechuate. Extracts from induced cells contained 4-nitrobenzaldehyde dehydrogenase, 4-nitrobenzyl alcohol dehydrogenase, and protocatechuate 4,5-dioxygenase activities. Under anaerobic conditions, cell extracts converted 4-nitrobenzoate or 4-hydroxylaminobenzoate to protocatechuate. Conversion of 4-nitrobenzoate to protocatechuate required NADPH. These results indicate that 4-nitrotoluene was degraded by an initial oxidation of the methyl group to form 4-nitrobenzyl alcohol, which was converted to 4-nitrobenzoate via 4-nitrobenzaldehyde. The 4-nitrobenzoate was reduced to 4-hydroxylaminobenzoate, which was converted to protocatechuate. A protocatechuate 4,5-dioxygenase catalyzed meta-ring fission of the protocatechuate. The detection of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and 4-nitrobenzyl alcohol dehydrogenase and 4-nitrotoluene oxygenase activities in 4-nitrobenzoate-grown cells suggests that 4-nitrobenzoate is an inducer of the 4-nitrotoluene degradative pathway