Open AccessFermentative toluene degradation in anaerobic defined syntrophic cocultures
Author(s) -
Meckenstock Rainer U
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1999.tb13715.x
Subject(s) - toluene , degradation (telecommunications) , chemistry , anaerobic exercise , microbiology and biotechnology , environmental chemistry , biology , computer science , organic chemistry , physiology , telecommunications
Abstract A syntrophic coculture of a new sulfate‐reducing isolate, strain TRM1, with Wolinella succinogenes degraded toluene with either fumarate or NO 3 − as the terminal electron acceptor. Neither strain TRM1 nor W. succinogenes could metabolise toluene under these conditions in pure culture. Syntrophic degradation was 2–3 times slower than toluene utilisation by strain TRM1 in pure culture with sulfate as electron acceptor. The culture did not produce benzoate or fatty acids like acetate or propionate in detectable amounts. An increase in biomass of the syntrophic toluene‐degrading culture was shown in a growth curve with nitrate as the terminal electron acceptor. Both partner organisms were detected microscopically at the end of the growth experiment. Syntrophic degradation of toluene with W. succinogenes and fumarate as the terminal electron acceptor was also demonstrated with the iron reducer Geobacter metallireducens . The results provide the first example of a fermentative oxidation of an aromatic hydrocarbon in a defined coculture.