title: Anaerobic degradation of cresols by denitrifying bacteria.
abstract: The initial reactions in anaerobic metabolism of methylphenols (cresols) and dimethylphenols were studied with denitrifying bacteria. A newly isolated strain, possibly a Paracoccus sp., was able to grow on o- or p-cresol as sole organic substrate with a generation time of 11 h; o- or p-cresol was completely oxidized to CO2 with nitrate being reduced to N2. A denitrifying Pseudomonas-like strain oxidized m- or -p-cresol as the sole organic growth substrate completely to CO2 with a generation time of 14 h. Demonstration of intermediates and/or in vitro measurement of enzyme activities suggest the following enzymatic steps: (1) p-Cresol was metabolized by both strains via benzoyl-CoA as central intermediate as follows: p-cresol----4-OH-benzaldehyde----4-OH-benzoate----4-OH-benzoyl-CoA----be nzoyl-CoA. Oxidation of the methyl group to 4-OH-benzaldehyde was catalyzed by p-cresol methylhydroxylase. After oxidation of the aldehyde to 4-OH-benzoate, 4-OH-benzoyl-CoA is formed by 4-OH-benzoyl-CoA synthetase; subsequent reductive dehydroxylation of 4-OH-benzoyl-CoA to benzoyl-CoA is catalyzed by 4-OH-benzoyl-CoA reductase (dehydroxylating). (2) o-Cresol was metabolized in the Paracoccus-like strain via 3-CH3-benzoyl-CoA as central intermediate as follows: o-cresol----4-OH-3-CH3-benzoate----4-OH-3-CH3-benzoyl-CoA----3-CH3-benzo yl-CoA. The following enzymes were demonstrated: (a) An enzyme catalyzing an isototope exchange reaction between 14CO2 and the carboxyl of 4-OH-3-CH3-benzoate; this activity is thought to be a partial reaction catalyzed by an o-cresol carboxylase. (b) 4-OH-3-CH3-benzoyl-CoA synthetase (AMP-forming) activating the carboxylation product 4-OH-3-CH3-benzoate to its coenzyme A thioester. (c) 4-OH-3-CH3-benzoyl-CoA reductase (dehydroxylating) catalyzing the reductive dehydroxylation of the 4-hydroxyl group with reduced benzyl viologen as electron donor to yield 3-CH3-benzoyl-CoA. This thioester may also be formed by action of a coenzyme A ligase when 3-CH3-benzoate is metabolized. 2,4-Dimethylphenol was metabolized via 4-OH-3-CH3-benzoate and further to 3-CH3-benzoyl-CoA. (3) The initial reactions of anaerobic metabolism of m-cresol in the Pseudomonas-like strain were not resolved. No indication for the oxidation of the methyl group nor for the carboxylation of m-cresol was found. In contrast, 2,4- and 3,4-dimethylphenol were oxidized to 4-OH-3-CH3- and 4-OH-2-CH3-benzoate, respectively, probably initiated by p-cresol methylhydroxylase; however, these compounds were not metabolized further.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Angewandte Mikrobiologie, Universität Ulm, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rudolphi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tschech
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fuchs
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D003408:Cresols / Q000378:metabolism*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010230:Paracoccus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003408:Cresols; D009566:Nitrates; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C032538:4-cresol; C034047:2-cresol