US EPA

6824494 

Journal Article 

Aerobic and anaerobic catabolism of phthalic-acid by a nitrate-respiring bacterium 

Aftring, RP; Taylor, BF 

1981 

Yes 

Archives of Microbiology
ISSN: 0302-8933
EISSN: 1432-072X 

130 

2 

101-104 

English 

10.1007/BF00411059 

WOS:A1981MR74900003 

A Bacillus sp., isolated by anaerobic enrichment on a o-phthalic acid-nitrate medium, grew either aerobically or anaerobically on phthalic acid. Cells grown anaerobically on phthalate immediately oxidized phthalate and benzoate with nitrate, whereas aerobic oxidation only occurred after a lag period and was inhibited by chloramphenicol. 2-Fluoro- and 3-fluorobenzoate were formed from 3-fluorophthalate by cells grown anaerobically on phthalate. Aerobically grown cells immediately oxidized phthalate, benzoate, 3-hydroxybenzoate and gentisate with oxygen. The aerobic and anaerobic route of catabolism of phthalate may thus share an initial decarboxylation to benzoate. This is the first report of the anaerobic dissimilation of phthalic acid by a pure bacterial culture. 

Phthalate catabolism; Nitrate respiration; Benzoate; Gentisate