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Degradation of mono-chlorophenols by a mixed microbial community via a meta- cleavage pathway

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Abstract

A mixed microbial community, specially designed todegrade a wide range of substituted aromaticcompounds, was examined for its ability to degrademono-chlorophenols as sole carbon source in aerobicbatch cultures. The mixed culture degraded 2-, 3-, and4 -chlorophenol (1.56 mM) via a meta- cleavagepathway. During the degradation of 2- and3-chlorophenol by the mixed culture, 3-chlorocatecholproduction was observed. Further metabolism was toxicto cells as it led to inactivation of the catechol2,3-dioxygenase enzyme upon meta- cleavage of3-chlorocatechol resulting in incomplete degradation.Inactivation of the meta- cleavage enzyme led toan accumulation of brown coloured polymers, whichinterfered with the measurement of cell growth usingoptical denstiy. Degradation of 4-chlorophenol by themixed culture led to an accumulation of5-chloro-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde, themeta- cleavage product of 4-chlorocatechol. Theaccumulation of this compound did not interfere withthe measurement of cell growth using optical density.5-chloro-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde was furthermetabolized by the mixed culture with a stoichiometricrelease of chloride, indicating complete degradationof 4-chlorophenol by the mixed culture via ameta- cleavage pathway.

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  1. School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin, 9, Republic of Ireland

    Alan Farrell, Brid Quilty & Brid Quilty

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  1. Alan Farrell
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  2. Brid Quilty
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Correspondence to Brid Quilty.

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Farrell, A., Quilty, B. Degradation of mono-chlorophenols by a mixed microbial community via a meta- cleavage pathway. Biodegradation 10, 353–362 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008323811433

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