• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.325-330
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• 2005

Rhodococcus sp. strain YU6 was isolated from soil for the ability to grow on o-xylene as the sole carbon and energy source. Unlike most other o-xylene-degrading bacteria, YU6 is able to grow on p-xylene. Numerous growth substrate range experiments, in addition to the ring-cleavage enzyme assay data, suggest that YU6 initially metabolizes 0- and p-xylene by direct aromatic ring oxidation. This leads to the formation of dimethylcatechols, which was further degraded largely through meta-cleavage path-way. The gene encoding meta-cleavage dioxygenase enzyme was PCR cloned from genomic YU6 DNA using previously known gene sequence data from the o-xylene-degrading Rhodococcus sp. strain DK17. Subsequent sequencing of the 918-bp PCR product revealed a $98\%$ identity to the gene, encoding meth-ylcatechol 2,3-dioxygenase from DK17. PFGE analysis followed by Southern hybridization with the catechol 2,3-dioxygenase gene demonstrated that the gene is located on an approximately 560-kb megaplasmid, designated pJY J1

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.582-587
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• 2010

A rhodium-catalyzed reductive cleavage reaction of carbon-cyano bonds is developed using hydrosilane as a mild reducing agent. A wide range of nitriles, including aryl, benzyl, and $\beta$-hydrogen containing alkyl cyanides are applicable to this decyanation reaction. The method is also applicable to organic synthesis, in which benzyl cyanide is used as a benzyl anion equivalent and a cyano group functions as a removable ortho-directing group.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.104-111
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• 2007

In this study, aniline dioxygenase genes responsible for initial catabolism of aniline in Burkholderia sp. HY1 and Delftia sp. HY99 were cloned and the amino acid sequences were comparatively analyzed, which already have been reported as bacteria utilizing aniline as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen, B. sp. HY1 was found to have at least a plasmid, and the plasmld-cured strain, B. sp. HY1-PC obtained using mitomycin C was tested with wild type strain to investigate whether the former maintained the degradability for aniline. This proved that the aniline oxygenase gene from B. sp. HY1 was located in chromosomal DNA, not in plasmid DNA. Aniline dioxygenase small subunits from B. sp. HY1 and D. sp. HY99 were found, based on 146 amino acids, to share 79% similarity. Notably, ado2 genes from B. sp. HY1 and D. sp. HY99 which were found to be terminal dioxygenase of aniline dioxygenase small subunit showed 99% similarity in the deduced amino acid sequences with tdnA2 of Frateuria sp. ANA-18 and danA2 of D. sp. AN3, respectively. Besides, enzyme assay and amino acid sequence analysis of catechol dioxygenase supported the previous report that B. sp. HY1 might occupy ortho-cleavage pathway using catechol 1,2-dioxygenase, while D. sp. HY99 might occupy catechol 2,3-dioxygenase for meta-cleavage pathway.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.804-810
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• 1999

There is a possibility that carvone, a monoterpene from spearmint (Mentha spicata), could induce the bph degradative pathway and genes in Alcaligenes eutrophus H850, which is a known Gram-negative PCB degrader with a broad substrate specificity that was thoroughly investigated with Arthrobacter sp. BIB, a Gram-positive PCB degrader. The strains BIB and H850 were unable to utilize and grow on the plant terpene [(R)-(-)-carvone] (50ppm) to be recognized as a sole carbon source. Nevertheless, the carvone did induce 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase (encoded by bphC) in the strain B lB, as observed by a resting cell assay that monitors accumulation of a yellow meta ring fission product from 4,4'-dichlorobiphenyl (DCBp). The monoterpene, however, did not appear to induce the meta cleavage pathway in the strain H850. Instead, an assumption was made that the strain might be using an alternative pathway, probably the ortho-cleavage pathway. A reverse transcription (RT)-PCR system, utilizing primers designed from a conserved region of the bphC gene of Arthrobacter sp. M5, was employed to verify the occurrence of the alternative pathway. A successful amplification (182bp) of mRNA transcribed from the N-terminal region of the bphC gene was accomplished in H850 cells induced by carvone (50ppm) as well as in biphenyl-growth cells. It is, therefore, likely that H850 possesses a specific PCB degradation pathway and hence a different substrate specificity compared with B1B. This study will contribute to an elucidation of the dynamic aspects of PCB bioremediation in terms of roles played by PCB degraders and plant terpenes as natural inducer substrates that are ubiquitous and environmentally compatible.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.692-699
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• 1994

A bacterial strain which formed a distinct colony on agar plate containing phenol as a vapor phase and grew well in a liquid minimal medium was isolated and identified as Acinetobac- ter sp. GEM2. The optimal temperature and initial pH for the growth of Acinetobacter sp. GEM2 were 30$\circ$C and 7.0, respectively. Cell growth was inhibited by phenol at the concentration over 1500 ppm. Cell growth dramatically increased from 10 hours after cultivation and almost showed a stationary phase within 24 hours at which 95% of phenol was concomitantly degraded. Acinetobac- ter sp. GEM2 was capable of growing on aromatic compounds, such as benzoic acid, phenol, m- cresol, o-cresol, P-cresol, catechol, gentisic acid, and toluene, but did not grow on benzene, salicylic acid, p-toluic acid, and p-xylene. By the analysis of catechol dioxygenase, it seemed that catechol was degraded through both meta- and ortho-cleavage pathway. The growth-limiting log P value of Acinetobacter sp. GEM2 on organic solvents was 2.0.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1179-1183
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• 2011

In this study, the chromosome-encoded pcuRCAXB genes that are required for p-cresol degradation have been identified by using a newly constructed green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based promoter probe transposon in the long-chain alkylphenol degrader Pseudomonas alkylphenolia. The deduced amino acid sequences of the genes showed the highest identities at the levels of 65-93% compared with those in the databases. The transposon was identified to be inserted in the pcuA gene, with the promoterless gfp gene being under the control of the pcu catabolic gene promoter. The expression of GFP was positively induced by p-cresol and was about 10 times higher by cells grown on agar than those in liquid culture. In addition, p-hydroxybenzoic acid was detected during p-cresol degradation. These results indicate that P. alkylphenolia additionally possesses a protocatechuate ortho-cleavage route for p-cresol degradation that is dominantly expressed in colonies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1273-1279
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• 2013

Aromatic hydrocarbons, such as phenol, have been detected frequently in wastewater, soil, and groundwater because of the extensive use of oil products. Bacterial strains (56 isolates) that degraded phenol were isolated from soil and industrial wastewater contaminated with hydrocarbons. GN13, which showed the best cell growth and phenol degradation, was selected for further analysis. The GN13 isolate was identified as Neisseria sp. based on the results of morphological, physiological, and biochemical taxonomic analyses and designated as Neisseria sp. GN13. The optimum temperature and pH for phenol removal of Neisseria sp. GN13 was $32^{\circ}C$ and 7.0, respectively. The highest cell growth occurred after cultivation for 30 hours in a jar fermentor using optimized medium containing 1,000 mg/l of phenol as the sole carbon source. Phenol was not detected after 27 hours of cultivation. Based on the analysis of catechol dioxygenase, it seemed that catechol was degraded through the meta- and ortho-cleavage pathway. Analysis of the biodegradation of phenol by Neisseria sp. GN13 in artificial wastewater containing phenol showed that the removal rate of phenol was 97% during incubation of 30 hours. The removal rate of total organic carbon (TOC) by Neisseria sp. GN13 and activated sludge was 83% and 78%, respectively. The COD removal rate by Neisseria sp. GN13 from petrochemical wastewater was about 1.3 times higher than that of a control containing only activated sludge.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.174-179
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• 2003

The bacterium NFQ-1 capable of utilizing quinoline (2,3-benzopyridine) as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen and energy was enriched and isolated from soil samples of dead coal pit areas. Strain NFQ-1 was identified as Pseudomonas nitroreducens NFQ-1 by BIOLOG system, and assigned to Pseudomonas sp. NFO-1. Pseudomonas sp. NFQ-1 was used with the concentration range of 1 to 10 mM quinoline. Strain NFQ-1 could degrade 2.5 mM quinoline within 9 hours of incubation. Initial pH 8.0 in the culture was reduced to 6.8, and eventually 7.0 as the incubation was proceeding. 2-Hydroxyquinoline, the first intermediate of the degradative pathway, accumulated transiently in the growth medium. The highest concentration of quinoline (15 mM) in this work inhibited cell growth and quinoline degradation. Pseudomonas sp. NFQ-1 was able to utilize various quinoline derivatives and aromatic compounds including 2-hydroxyquinoline, p-comaric acid, benzoic acid, p-cresol, p-hydroxybenzoate, protocatechuic acid, and catechol. The specific activity of catechol oxygenases was determined to approximately 184.7 unit/㎎ for catechol 1.2-dioxygenase and 33.19 unit/㎎ for catechol 2,3-dioxygenase, respectively. As the result, it showed that strain NFQ-1 degraded quinoline via mainly orthp-cleavage pathway, and in partial meta-cleavage pathway.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.472-476
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• 1996

The major portions of two DNA fragments, one from degradative plasmid, pRA4000 from Pseudomonas putida NCIMB 9866, and the other from degradative plasmid, pRA500 from P. putida NCIMB 9869, which harbor the structural genes for the flavoprotein (pchF) and cytochrome (pchC) subunits of p-cresol methylhydroxylase (PCMH), have been sequenced. The DNA and deduced amino acid sequences for pchC and pchF have been published. In these fragments, a coding region (dhal) for an aldehyde dehydrogenase has been identified. It is proposed that this gene encodes for the aldehyde dehydrogenase which converts p-hydroxybenzyaldehyde to p-hydroxybenzoate. p-Hydroxybezealdehyde is the product of oxidation of p-cresol by PCMH. The fragment from P. putida 9869 also harbors the genes for the ${\alpha}$ (pcaG) and ${\beta}$ (pcaH) subunits of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxigenase. The fragment from 9866 does not have any portion of these genes in the corresponding region A possible open reading frame (ORF) between pchC and pchF is seen for both clones, and a second putative open reading frame (ORF') also exists in the 9866 clone. The gene organizations are dhal-pchC-ORF-pchF-pcaGH for the DNA fragment from 9869, and ORF-dhal-pchC-ORF-pchF for the DNA fragment from 9866.