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Biodegradation of 3-nitrotoluene by Rhodococcus sp. strain ZWL3NT

  • Environmental biotechnology
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Abstract

A pure bacterial culture was isolated by its ability to utilize 3-nitrotoluene (3NT) as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy for growth. Analysis of its 16S rRNA gene showed that the organism (strain ZWL3NT) belongs to the genus Rhodococcus. A rapid disappearance of 3NT with concomitant release of nitrite was observed when strain ZWL3NT was grown on 3NT. The isolate also grew on 2-nitrotoluene, 3-methylcatechol and catechol. Two metabolites, 3-methylcatechol and 2-methyl-cis,cis-muconate, in the reaction mixture were detected after incubation of cells of strain ZWL3NT with 3NT. Enzyme assays showed the presence of both catechol 1,2-dioxygenase and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase in strain ZWL3NT. In addition, a catechol degradation gene cluster (catRABC cluster) for catechol ortho-cleavage pathway was cloned from this strain and cell extracts of Escherichia coli expressing CatA and CatB exhibited catechol 1,2-dioxygenase activity and cis,cis-muconate cycloisomerase activity, respectively. These experimental evidences suggest a novel pathway for 3NT degradation with 3-methylcatechol as a key metabolite by Rhodococcus sp. strain ZWL3NT.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30970031) and the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (2012CB721003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China

    Xiao-Jun Tian, Xiao-Yang Liu, Hong Liu, Shu-Jun Wang & Ning-Yi Zhou

  2. Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China

    Hong Liu

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  1. Xiao-Jun Tian
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  2. Xiao-Yang Liu
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  3. Hong Liu
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Correspondence to Hong Liu.

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Tian, XJ., Liu, XY., Liu, H. et al. Biodegradation of 3-nitrotoluene by Rhodococcus sp. strain ZWL3NT. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 97, 9217–9223 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-012-4619-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-012-4619-6

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