Degradation and induction specificity in actinomycetes that degrade p-nitrophenol

• Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Vol. 59; no. 10; pp. 3505 - 3508
• Main Authors: Hanne, L.F, Kirk, L.L, Appel, S.M, Narayan, A.D, Bains, K.K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01-10-1993
• Subjects: actinomycetes; AROMATICS; ARTHROBACTER; Arthrobacter - drug effects; Arthrobacter - genetics; Arthrobacter - metabolism; Arthrobacter aurescens; BACTERIA; Bacteriology; BIODEGRADACION; BIODEGRADATION; Biodegradation, Environmental - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Biology of microorganisms of confirmed or potential industrial interest; Biotechnology; Catechols - pharmacology; Cellular biology; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; COMPOSE PHENOLIQUE; COMPUESTOS FENOLICOS; Cresols - pharmacology; DECOMPOSITION; Environmental cleanup; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; FLORA DEL SUELO; FLORE DU SOL; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial - drug effects; Hydrocarbons; HYDROXY COMPOUNDS; METABOLISME; METABOLISMO; Mission oriented research; NITRO COMPOUNDS; NITROPHENOL; Nitrophenols - metabolism; Nitrophenols - pharmacology; NOCARDIA; Nocardia - drug effects; Nocardia - genetics; Nocardia - metabolism; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; Phenol; Phenols - pharmacology; PHENOLS 540220 > Environment, Terrestrial > Chemicals Monitoring & Transport > (1990-); Physiology and metabolism; Soil Microbiology; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; Soil Pollutants - pharmacology; Actinomycetales; Biodegradation; Hydroquinone; Plasmid; Nocardia; Specificity; Bacteria; Nocardiaceae; Actinomycetes; Aromatic compound; Metabolism
• ISSN: 0099-2240; 1098-5336
• DOI: 10.1128/AEM.59.10.3505-3508.1993

We have isolated two soil bacteria (identified as Arthrobacter aurescens TW17 and Nocardia sp. strain TW2) capable of degrading p-nitrophenol (PNP) and numerous other phenolic compounds. A. aurescens TW17 contains a large plasmid which correlated with the PNP degradation phenotype. Degradation of PNP by A. aurescens TW17 was induced by preexposure to PNP, 4-nitrocatechol, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, or m-nitrophenol, whereas PNP degradation by Nocardia sp. strain TW2 was induced by PNP, 4-nitrocatechol, phenol, p-cresol, or m-nitrophenol. A. aurescens TW17 initially degraded PNP to hydroquinone and nitrite. Nocardia sp. strain TW2 initially converted PNP to hydroquinone or 4-nitrocatechol, depending upon the inducing compound