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. 1994 Aug;60(8):3030–3032. doi: 10.1128/aem.60.8.3030-3032.1994

Biodegradation of p-nitrophenol via 1,2,4-benzenetriol by an Arthrobacter sp.

R K Jain 1, J H Dreisbach 1, J C Spain 1
PMCID: PMC201761  PMID: 8085840

Abstract

The degradation of p-nitrophenol (PNP) by Moraxella and Pseudomonas spp. involves an initial monooxygenase-catalyzed removal of the nitro group. The resultant hydroquinone is subject to ring fission catalyzed by a dioxygenase enzyme. We have isolated a strain of an Arthrobacter sp., JS443, capable of degrading PNP with stoichiometric release of nitrite. During induction of the enzymes required for growth on PNP, 1,2,4-benzenetriol was identified as an intermediate by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and radiotracer studies. 1,2,4-Benzenetriol was converted to maleylacetic acid, which was further degraded by the beta-ketoadipate pathway. Conversion of PNP to 1,2,4-benzenetriol is catalyzed by a monooxygenase system in strain JS443 through the formation of 4-nitrocatechol, 4-nitroresorcinol, or both. Our results clearly indicate the existence of an alternative pathway for the biodegradation of PNP.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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