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Screening of a hypersaline cyanobacterium, Phormidium tenue, for the degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons: naphthalene and anthracene

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Abstract

Hypersaline Phormidium strains were grown in media amended with naphthalene and anthracene. Phormidium tenue was identified as tolerating and effectively degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that may be toxic in the environment. GC/MS analysis explained the degradation of these compounds by P. tenue. A dioxygenase enzyme system was evident by the formation of anthracene dione as the first degradation compound. This strain could be used for bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydorcarbon pollution on seashores.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), and University Grants Commission (UGC), Government of India, for the financial support. The first author acknowledges the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) Scheme for the fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Palkalai perur, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, 620024, India

    Muthukannan Satheesh Kumar, Gangatharan Muralitharan & Nooruddin Thajuddin

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  1. Muthukannan Satheesh Kumar
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  2. Gangatharan Muralitharan
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  3. Nooruddin Thajuddin
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Correspondence to Nooruddin Thajuddin.

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Kumar, M.S., Muralitharan, G. & Thajuddin, N. Screening of a hypersaline cyanobacterium, Phormidium tenue, for the degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons: naphthalene and anthracene. Biotechnol Lett 31, 1863–1866 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-009-0085-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-009-0085-3

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