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Degradation of difluorobenzenes by the wild strain Labrys portucalensis

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Abstract

This study focuses on the biodegradation of difluorobenzenes (DFBs), compounds commonly used as intermediates in the industrial synthesis of various pharmaceutical and agricultural chemicals. A previously isolated microbial strain (strain F11), identified as Labrys portucalensis, able to degrade fluorobenzene (FB) as sole carbon and energy source, was tested for its capability to degrade 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-DFB in batch cultures. Strain F11 could use 1,3-DFB as a sole carbon and energy source, with quantitative release of fluoride, but 1,4-DFB was only degraded and defluorinated when FB was supplied simultaneously. Growth of strain F11 with 0.5 mM of 1,3-DFB led to stoichiometric release of fluoride ion. The same result was obtained in cultures fed with 1 mM of 1,3-DFB or 0.5 mM of 1,4-DFB, in the presence of 1 mM of FB. No growth occurred with 1,2-DFB as substrate, and degradation of FB was inhibited when supplied simultaneously with 1,2-DFB. To our knowledge, this is the first time biodegradation of 1,3-DFB as a sole carbon and energy source, and cometabolic degradation of 1,4-DFB, by a single bacterium, is reported.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Dick B. Janssen for helpful discussions and for revising the manuscript. I.S. Moreira and M.F. Carvalho wish to acknowledge a research grant from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal (Ref. SFRH/BD/28744/2006 and SFRH/BPD/44670/2008, respectively) and Fundo Social Europeu (FSE) (Programa Operacional Potencial Humano (POPH), Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional (QREN)). This work was supported by the FCT Project-POCI/V.5/A0105/2005.

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  1. Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina (CBQF), Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal

    Irina S. Moreira, Catarina L. Amorim, Maria F. Carvalho & Paula M. L. Castro

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  1. Irina S. Moreira
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  2. Catarina L. Amorim
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  3. Maria F. Carvalho
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  4. Paula M. L. Castro
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Correspondence to Paula M. L. Castro.

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Moreira, I.S., Amorim, C.L., Carvalho, M.F. et al. Degradation of difluorobenzenes by the wild strain Labrys portucalensis . Biodegradation 23, 653–662 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-012-9541-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-012-9541-1

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