title: Degradation of biphenyl by Mycobacterium sp. strain PYR-1.
abstract: The metabolism of biphenyl by Mycobacterium sp. PYR-1 was investigated. The Mycobacterium sp. degraded >98% of the biphenyl added within 72 h. Analysis of ethyl acetate extracts of the culture medium by HPLC indicated that benzoic acid was the major metabolite. Other products were 4-hydroxybiphenyl, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and 5-oxo-5-phenylpentanoic acid. The metabolites were characterized by mass and 1H NMR spectrometry. Identification of benzoic acid and 5-oxo-5-phenylpentanoic acid indicates that biphenyl degradation by Mycobacterium sp. PYR-1 is generally similar to known pathways. A novel alternative metabolic pathway consisted of monooxygenation at C-4 of biphenyl to give 4-hydroxybiphenyl, with subsequent degradation via ring cleavage to 4-hydroxybenzoic acid.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Moody
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Doerge
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cerniglia
mesh_terms: D019817:Benzoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D007700:Kinetics; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019817:Benzoic Acid; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D008903:Minerals; C010574:biphenyl