title: Potential for carboxylation-dehydroxylation of phenolic compounds by a methanogenic consortium.
abstract: An anaerobic consortium that carboxylated and dehydroxylated phenol to benzoate, and 2-cresol to 3-methylbenzoic acid, under methanogenic conditions was studied. Phenol induced this transformation activity. Addition of 4-hydroxypyridine or an increase in the concentration of proteose peptone to 0.5% (w/v) delayed the transformation. Phenol enhanced the rate of transformation of 2-cresol whereas 2-cresol delayed the transformation of phenol. Phenols with ortho-substitutions (chloro-, fluoro-, bromo-, hydroxyl-, amino-, or carboxyl-) were transformed to meta-substituted benzoic acids. However, meta- and para-substituted phenols (cresols, fluorophenols, and chlorophenols) were not transformed. Phenol was most rapidly metabolized, followed by catechol, 2-cresol, 2-fluorophenol, 2-aminophenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, and 2-bromophenol. The consortium O-demethylated anisole to phenol and 2-methoxyphenol to catechol, and oxidized 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol to 2-hydroxybenzoic acid. Aniline, 2-ethylphenol, 2-hydroxypyridine, 2-acetamidophenol, 2,6-dimethylphenol, 2-phenylphenol, and 1-naphthol were not metabolized.
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche en microbiologie appliquée, Ville de Laval, Canada.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bisaillon
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lépine
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beaudet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sylvestre
mesh_terms: D000627:Aminophenols / Q000378:metabolism; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001565:Benzoates / Q000494:pharmacology; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects; D002733:Chlorophenols / Q000378:metabolism; D003408:Cresols / Q000378:metabolism*; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism; D019800:Phenol; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000627:Aminophenols; D001565:Benzoates; D002733:Chlorophenols; D003408:Cresols; D010636:Phenols; C009503:3-toluic acid; C027667:2-aminophenol; D019800:Phenol; C032038:2-bromophenol; C030683:2-chlorophenol; D008697:Methane; C034047:2-cresol