Open AccessMetabolism of anthracene by a Rhodococcus species
Author(s) -
DeanRoss Deborah,
Moody Joanna D.,
Freeman James P.,
Doerge Daniel R.,
Cerniglia Carl E.
Publication year - 2001
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.1574-6968.2001.tb10886.x
Subject(s) - chrysene , anthracene , fluoranthene , rhodococcus , phenanthrene , pyrene , naphthalene , chemistry , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon , bacteria , microbial biodegradation , stereochemistry , metabolic pathway , organic chemistry , biochemistry , metabolism , microorganism , biology , enzyme , genetics
A Rhodococcus sp. isolated from contaminated river sediment was investigated to determine if the isolate could degrade high molecular mass polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The Rhodococcus sp. was able to utilize anthracene (53%), phenanthrene (31%), pyrene (13%), and fluoranthene (5%) as sole source of carbon and energy, but not naphthalene or chrysene. In a study of the degradation of anthracene by a Rhodococcus sp., the identification of ring‐fission products indicated at least two ring‐cleavage pathways. One results in the production of 6,7‐benzocoumarin, previously shown to be produced chemically from the product of meta cleavage of 1,2‐dihydroxyanthracene, a pathway which has been well established in Gram‐negative bacteria. The second is an ortho cleavage of 1,2‐dihydroxyanthracene that produces 3‐(2‐carboxyvinyl)naphthalene‐2‐carboxylic acid, a dicarboxylic acid ring‐fission product. This represents a novel metabolic pathway only identified in Gram‐positive bacteria.