Open AccessIsolation and characterization of 3‐ N ‐trimethylamino‐1‐propanol‐degrading Rhodococcus sp. strain A2
Author(s) -
Mohamed Ahmed Isam Ali,
Arima Jiro,
Ichiyanagi Tsuyoshi,
Sakuno Emi,
Mori Nobuhiro
Publication year - 2009
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.1574-6968.2009.01641.x
Subject(s) - trimethylamine , metabolite , chemistry , strain (injury) , betaine , bacteria , biochemistry , stereochemistry , biology , genetics , anatomy
The aerobic degradation of 3‐ N ‐trimethylamino‐1‐propanol (homocholine) as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen has been found for a Rhodococcus sp. bacterium isolated from soil. The isolate was identified as Rhodococcus sp. strain A2 based on its phenotypic features, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and results of phylogenetic analysis. The washed cells of strain A2 completely degraded homocholine within 6 h, with concomitant formation of several metabolites. Analysis of the metabolites using capillary electrophoresis, fast atom bombardment–MS, and GC–MS showed that trimethylamine was the major metabolite, in addition to β‐alanine betaine (β‐AB) and trimethylaminopropionaldehyde. Therefore, the possible degradation pathway of homocholine in the isolated strain is through consequent oxidation of the alcohol group (‐OH) to aldehyde (‐CHO) and acid (‐COOH). Thereafter, the cleavage of β‐AB C–N bonds yielded trimethylamine and alkyl chain.