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The degradation of 1-phenylalkanes by an oil-degrading strain of Acinetobacter lwoffi

  • Biochemistry
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Abstract

An oil-degrading bacterium identified as Acinetobacter lwoffi was isolated by elective culture on North Sea Forties crude oil from an activated sludge sample. It grew on a wide range of n-alkanes (C12−C28) and 1-phenylalkanes, including 1-phenyldodecane, 1-phenyltridecane and 1-phenyltetradecane. The organism degraded 1-phenyldodecane to phenylacetic acid which was further metabolized via homogentisic acid, whilst 1-phenyltridecane was transformed to trans-cinnamic and 3-phenylpropionic acid which were not further metabolized. Evidence dence is presented for a relationship between aromatic amino acid catabolism and 1-phenyldodecane degradation in this organism.

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Amund, O.O., Higgins, I.J. The degradation of 1-phenylalkanes by an oil-degrading strain of Acinetobacter lwoffi . Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 51, 45–56 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00444227

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