title: Isolation and characterization of an alkaliphilic bacterium utilizing pyrene as a carbon source.
abstract: Alkaliphilic Mycobacterium sp. strain MHP-1, which can grow on pyrene as a sole carbon and energy source, was isolated from a soil sample. At the optimum pH for growth (pH 9), about 50% of pyrene (final concentration at 0.1% [w/v]) was degraded during 7 d of incubation, and 4,5-phenanthrenedioic acid, 4-phenanthroic acid and phthalic acid were identified as metabolic intermediates. Strain MHP-1 was found to possess aromatic-ring dioxygenase genes, which are highly homologous to the known nidAB genes from pyrene-degrading mycobacteria.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan. uhhabe@mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Habe
authors.forename: Mieko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanemitsu
authors.forename: Mizuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takemura
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nojiri
authors.forename: Hisakazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamane
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Omori