title: Degradation of pyrene by Mycobacterium flavescens.
abstract: A strain of Mycobacterium flavescens was isolated from polluted sediments. It was capable of utilizing pyrene as a sole source of carbon and energy. When pyrene was supplied as a suspension at 50 micrograms/ml, the generation time was 9.6 h and the rate of pyrene utilization was 0.56 microgram ml-1 day-1. In addition to pyrene, the strain could mineralize phenanthrene (17.7%) and fluoranthene (17.9%), but failed to mineralize naphthalene, chrysene, anthracene, fluorene, acenaphthene and benzo[a]pyrene, as determined by recovery of radiolabeled CO2 in incubations conducted for 2 weeks under growth conditions. Metabolites produced during growth on pyrene were detected and characterized by HPLC and GC-MS. The product of initial ring oxidation, 4,5-dihydroxy-4,5-dihydropyrene was identified, as well as ring-fission products including 4-phenanthroic acid, phthalic acid, and 4,5-phenanthrenedioic acid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne 46805-1499, USA. ross@smtplink.ipfw.indiana.edu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dean-Ross
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cerniglia
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001709:Biotechnology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C030984:pyrene