title: Mutualistic degradation of the lignin model compound veratrylglycerol-beta-(o-methoxyphenyl) ether by bacteria.
abstract: Complete degradation of the lignin model compound veratrylglycerol-beta-(o-methoxyphenyl) ether is accomplished mutualistically by a two-membered bacterial culture. Bacterial isolate E1, which has been tentatively identified as an Acinetobacter, grows on veratrylglycerol-beta-(o-methoxyphenyl) ether producing guaiacol (o-methoxyphenol) as a non-metabolizable, bacteriocidal by-product. When Nocardia corallina (strain A81) is also present in media containing veratrylglycerol-beta-(o-methoxyphenyl) ether as the only carbon/energy source, it is able to grow on the guaiacol produced from veratrylglycerol-beta-(o-methoxyphenyl) ether by isolate E1. Strain A81 alone does not grow on veratrylglycerol-beta-(o-methoxyphenyl) ether. In the absence of strain A81, isolate E1 is rapidly killed by accumulated guaiacol. In the presence of the Nocardia, isolate E1 maintains its viability.
mesh_terms: D000150:Acinetobacter / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D006139:Guaiacol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009615:Nocardia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006139:Guaiacol; D008031:Lignin