title: Biodegradation of 4-nitrotoluene by Pseudomonas sp. strain 4NT.
abstract: A strain of Pseudomonas spp. was isolated from nitrobenzene-contaminated soil on 4-nitrotoluene as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. The organism also grew on 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, and 4-nitrobenzoate. 4-Nitrobenzoate and ammonia were detected in the culture fluid of glucose-grown cells after induction with 4-nitrotoluene. Washed suspensions of 4-nitrotoluene- or 4-nitrobenzoate-grown cells oxidized 4-nitrotoluene, 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, 4-nitrobenzyl alcohol, and protocatechuate. Extracts from induced cells contained 4-nitrobenzaldehyde dehydrogenase, 4-nitrobenzyl alcohol dehydrogenase, and protocatechuate 4,5-dioxygenase activities. Under anaerobic conditions, cell extracts converted 4-nitrobenzoate or 4-hydroxylaminobenzoate to protocatechuate. Conversion of 4-nitrobenzoate to protocatechuate required NADPH. These results indicate that 4-nitrotoluene was degraded by an initial oxidation of the methyl group to form 4-nitrobenzyl alcohol, which was converted to 4-nitrobenzoate via 4-nitrobenzaldehyde. The 4-nitrobenzoate was reduced to 4-hydroxylaminobenzoate, which was converted to protocatechuate. A protocatechuate 4,5-dioxygenase catalyzed meta-ring fission of the protocatechuate. The detection of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and 4-nitrobenzyl alcohol dehydrogenase and 4-nitrotoluene oxygenase activities in 4-nitrobenzoate-grown cells suggests that 4-nitrobenzoate is an inducer of the 4-nitrotoluene degradative pathway.
authors.affiliation: AL/EQ-OL, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida 32403-5319.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Haigler
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Spain
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014050:Toluene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014050:Toluene; C017572:4-nitrotoluene; D010088:Oxidoreductases