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Transformation of chlorinated phenolic compounds in the genusRhodococcus

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Abstract

The ability of strains of the genusRhodococcus to transform chlorinated phenolic compounds was studied. Noninduced cells of several strains ofRhodococcus, covering at least eight species, were found to attack mono-, di-, and trichlorophenols by hydroxylation at theortho position to chlorocatechols. 3-chlorophenol and 4-chlorophenol were converted to 4-chlorocatechol, 2,3-dichlorophenol to 3,4-dichlorocatechol, and 3,4-di-chlorophenol to 4,5-dichlorocatechol. The chlorocatechols accumulated to nearly stoichiometric amounts. Other mono- and dichlorophenols were not transformed. The ability of the strains to hydroxylate chlorophenols correlated with the ability to grow on unsubstituted phenol as the sole source of carbon and energy. SeveralRhodococcus strains attacked chlorophenolic compounds by both hydroxylation and O-methylation. 2,3,4-, 2,3,5- and 3,4,5-trichlorophenol were hydroxylated to trichlorocatechol and then sequentially O-methylated to chloroguaiacol and chloroveratrole. Tetrachlo-rohydroquinone was O-methylated sequentially to tetrachloro-4-methoxy-phenol and tetrachloro-1,4-dimethoxybenzene. Several of the active strains had no known history of exposure to any chloroaromatic compound. Rhodococci are widely distributed in soil and sludge and these results suggest that this genus may play an important role in transformation of chlorinated phenolic compounds in the environment.

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Author notes

  1. Max M. Häggblom

    Present address: Department of Microbiology, New York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, 10016, New York, NY, USA

  2. Dieter Janke

    Present address: Central Institute of Microbiology and Experimental Therapy, Academy of Sciences of the GDR, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 6900, Jena, German Democratic Republic

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Mannerheimintie 172, SF-00300, Helsinki, Finland

    Max M. Häggblom, Dieter Janke & Mirja S. Salkinoja-Salonen

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  1. Max M. Häggblom
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  2. Dieter Janke
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  3. Mirja S. Salkinoja-Salonen
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Häggblom, M.M., Janke, D. & Salkinoja-Salonen, M.S. Transformation of chlorinated phenolic compounds in the genusRhodococcus . Microb Ecol 18, 147–159 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02030123

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