Production of 4-ethylphenol from 4-hydroxycinnamic acid by Lactobacillus sp. isolated from a swine waste lagoon.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the source material and the responsible micro-organisms of 4-ethylphenol production in swine lagoon sediment slurries.


RESULTS
Swine lagoon sediment was blended and incubated with tryptone-yeast extract broth containing 10 mmol l(-1) each of 4-hydroxycinnamic as well as other phenolics. 4-Ethylphenol was only produced from 4-hydroxycinnamic acid. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis indicated that the microbial community was substantially altered from inclusion of 4-hydroxycinnamic acid. Serial dilutions and selective plating were employed to isolate a culture capable of 4-hydroxycinnamic acid conversion to 4-ethylphenol. Morphological and ribosomal gene analysis indicated the isolate to be a Lactobacillus sp., Lactobacillus sp. pep8 converted 4-vinylphenol, but not 4-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate, to 4-ethylphenol and did not convert 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid to 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol. A p-coumaric acid decarboxylase (pdc) gene identical to Lact. plantarum pdc genes was cloned from Lactobacillus sp. pep8.


CONCLUSIONS
Swine lagoon sediments produce 4-ethylphenol from 4-hydroxycinnamic acid due, in part, to the activity of Lactobacillus spp.


CONCLUSIONS
4-Ethylphenol, a malodourant of swine and beef wastes, is generated from plant materials by indigenous lactobacilli suggesting that altering the amount dietary of plant material may influence levels of 4-ethylphenol in the wastes.
Kridelbaugh
D
D
Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101-1080, USA.
Hughes
S
S
Allen
T
T
Doerner
K C
KC
D000818:Animals; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism*; D010666:Phenylpropionates / Q000378:metabolism; D011422:Propionates; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013552:Swine; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
D003373:Coumaric Acids; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010636:Phenols; D010666:Phenylpropionates; D011422:Propionates; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; C035253:3-phenylpropionic acid; C042291:4-ethylphenol; C495469:p-coumaric acid; C030626:4-vinylphenol