title: Anaerobic degradation of aromatic compounds by magnetospirillum strains: isolation and degradation genes.
abstract: Four Magnetospirillum strains degrading toluene, phenol, benzoate, and other aromatic compounds under anaerobic conditions were isolated from denitrifying enrichment cultures. One of the isolates, toluene-degrading strain TS-6, contained genes that are homologous to those encoding benzylsuccinate synthase (Bss) and benzoyl-CoA reductase (Bcr), two key enzymes of anaerobic toluene and benzoate degradation respectively in known denitrifying bacteria. Transcription of the genes was confirmed. It was controlled by growth substrates and oxygen conditions, but bcr genes were unexpectedly expressed in aerobic cells grown on benzoate. It was confirmed that the genus Magnetospirillum represents the third genus of denitrifying bacteria capable of degrading aromatic compounds under anaerobic conditions, besides the genera Thauera and Azoarcus.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shinoda
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akagi
authors.forename: Yasumitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchihashi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hiraishi
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yukawa
authors.forename: Hiroya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yurimoto
authors.forename: Yasuyoshi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001483:Base Sequence; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D017931:DNA Primers; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D042201:Magnetospirillum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006838:Hydrocarbons