FIG 3.

Benzene degradation by isolate Variovorax MAK3 and corresponding mRNA transcript abundance of its beta subunit ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase (RDH). Isolates (initial cell density ∼10⁶ CFU/ml) were incubated in minimal media (i) with benzene, (ii) with glucose, (iii) with HCl as an abiotic control, or (iv) without benzene. Open symbols represent benzene degradation quantified by GC-MS, and closed symbols represent dioxygenase transcript abundance quantified by RT-PCR. Error bars represent the standard deviations from averages of triplicate microcosms.