Summary
Strains degrading 3-methylbenzoate (3MB) via ortho-cleavage were enriched by preselection with 4-carboxymethyl-2-methylbut-2-en-1,4-olide (2-methyllactone, 2ML) as sole carbon source or by counter selection of meta-cleaving strains using 3-chlorobenzoate (3CB) as suicide substrate. These strains and microorganisms obtained from continuous cultures with 3CB/3MB (Schmidt et al. 1985) or with chlorophenols and cresols (Schmidt 1987) were grouped according to their abilities to grow on 3CB, 3MB or 2ML and their mode of ring-cleavage during growth with aromatic substrates. Each group was tested for its capability to mineralize mixtures of 3CB and 3MB and the extent of DOC-removal was quantified.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bartels I, Knackmuss H-J, Reineke W (1984) Suicide inactivation of catechol-2,3-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida mt-2 by 3-halocatechols. Appl Environ Microbiol 47:500–505
Bayly RC, Wigmore GJ (1973) Metabolism of phenol and cresols by mutants of Pseudomonas putida. J Bacteriol 113:1112–1120
Chatterjee DK, Kellogg ST, Hamada S, Chakrabarty AM (1981) Plasmid specifying total degradation of 3-chlorobenzoate by a modified ortho pathway. J Bacteriol 146:639–646
Dagley S (1978) Pathway for the utilization of organic growth substrates. In: The Bacteria, Vol VI, chapter 5: 305–388, Gunsalus IC (ed), Academic Press Inc.
Don RH, Pemberton JM (1981) Properties of six pesticide degradation plasmids isolated from Alcaligenes paradoxus and Alcaligenes eutrophus. J Bacteriol 145:681–686
Dron E, Hellwig M, Reineke W, Knackmuss H-J (1974) Isolation and characterisation of a 3-chlorobenzoate degrading Pseudomonad. Arch Microbiol 99:61–70
Dorn E, Knackmuss H-J (1978a) Chemical structure and biodegradability of halogenated aromatic compounds: Two catechol 1,2-dioxygenases from a 3-chlorobenzoate-grown Pseudomonad. Biochem J 174:73–84
Dorn E, Knackmuss H-J (1978b) Chemical structure and biodegradability of halogenated aromatic compounds: Substituent effects on 1,2-dioxygenation of catechol. Biochem J 174:85–94
Engelhardt G, Rast HG, Wallnöfer PR (1979) Degradation of aromatic carboxylic acids by Nocardia spec. DSM 43251. FEMS Microbiol Lett 5:245–251
Horvath RS (1970) Co-metabolism of methyl- and chloro-substituted catechols by a Achromobacter sp. possessing a new meta-cleaving oxygenase. Biochem J 119:871–876
Janke D, Fritsche W (1978) Mikrobielle Dechlorierung von Pesticiden und anderen Umweltchemikalien. Z Allg Microbiol 18:365–382
Johnston HW, Briggs GG, Alexander M (1972) Metabolism of 3-chlorobenzoic acid by a Pseudomonad. Soil Biol Biochem 4:187–190
Klages U, Lingens F (1979) Degradation of 4-chlorobenzoic acid by a Nocardia species. FEMS Microbiol Lett 6:201–203
Knackmuss H-J, Hellwig M, Lackner H, Otting W (1976) Cometabolism of 3-methylbenzoate and methylcatechols by a 3-chlorobenzoate utilizing Pseudomonas: Accumulation of (+)-2,5-dihydro-4-methyl-5-oxo-furan-2-acetic acid. Eur J Appl Microbiol 2:267–276
Knackmuss H-J (1984) Biochemistry and practical implications of organohalide degradation. In: Klug MJ, Reddy CA (eds) Microbiol ecology. America Society for Microbiol, Washington, pp 687–693
Miller DJ (1981) Toluate metabolism in nocardioform actinomycetes: Utilization of the enzymes of the 3-oxoadipate pathway for the degradation of methyl-substituted analogues. In: Schaal KP, Pulverer G (eds) Actinomycetes. Zbl Bakt Suppl 11. Fischer, Stuttgart/New York, pp 355–360
Murray K, Duggleby CJ, Sala-Trepat JM, Williams PA (1972) The metabolism of benzoate and methylbenzoates via the meta-cleavage pathway by Pseudomonas arvilla mt-2. Eur J Biochem 28:301–310
Nozaki M (1970) Metapyrocatechase (Pseudomonas). Methods Enzymol 17A:522–525
Pieper DH, Engesser K-H, Don RH, Timmis KN, Knackmuss H-J (1985) Modified ortho-cleavage pathway in Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP134 for the degradation of 4-methylcatechol. FEMS Microbiol Lett 29:63–67
Powlowski JB, Dagley S (1985) β-Ketoadipate pathway in Trichosporon cutaneum modified for methyl-substituted metabolites. J Bacteriol 163:1126–1135
Ruisinger S, Klages U, Lingens F (1976) Abbau der 4-Chlorbenzoesäure durch eine Arthobacter-Species. Arch Microbiol 110:253–256
Schmidt E, Hellwig M, Knackmuss H-J (1983) Degradation of chlorophenols by a defined mixed microbial community. Appl Environ Microbiol 46:1038–1044
Schmidt E, Bartels I, Knackmuss H-J (1985) Degradation of 3-chlorobenzoate by benzoate or 3-methylbenzoate-utilising cultures. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 31:381–389
Schmidt E (1987) Response of a chlorophenols degrading mixed culture to changing loads of phenol, chlorophenol and cresols. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 27:94–99
Vandenbergh PA, Olsen RH, Colaruotolo JF (1981) Isolation and genetic characterisation of bacteria that degrade chloroaromatic compounds. Appl Environ Microbiol 42:737–739
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Taeger, K., Knackmuss, HJ. & Schmidt, E. Biodegradability of mixtures of chloro- and methylsubstituted aromatics: Simultaneous degradation of 3-chlorobenzoate and 3-methylbenzoate. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 28, 603–608 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00250420
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00250420