Summary
A bacterium capable of utilizing biphenyl as the sole source of carbon was isolated from soil and identified as a Micrococcus species. The organism also utilized 4-chlorobiphenyl and several other aromatic compounds as growth substrates. 2,3-Dihydroxybiphenyl and benzoic acid were identified as intermediates by physico-chemical methods. The bacterium degraded biphenyl to 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl followed by its meta-ring cleavage to yield 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoic acid, which was then hydrolysed to give benzoic acid. Benzoate was further metabolised via a catechol meta-cleavage pathway by a Micrococcus sp.
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Correspondence to: H. Z. Ninnekar
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Bevinakatti, B.G., Ninnekar, H.Z. Degradation of biphenyl by a Micrococcus species. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 38, 273–275 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00174482
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00174482