A NOVEL ORTHO-PHTHALATE UTILIZER - AN ACETIC-ACID BACTERIUM ACETOBACTER SP

A novel ortho-phthalate (OF) utilizer, Acetobacter sp. OP1, was isolat ed from a sample of phthalate-contaminated acid soil (pH 5) collected at a chemical factory. The fact that this OP utilizer is an acetic aci d bacterium distinguishes it from other known OP utilizers. The isolat e was acidophilic, resistant to high OP concentrations (40 g/l), and a ble to utilize OF, benzoate, 4-hydroxybenzoate, and protocatechuate as sole carbon and energy sources and ammonium and nitrate as nitrogen s ources. The combination of these properties makes this strain an activ e and competitive utilizer of aromatic xenobiotics under conditions of massive environmental pollution. The kinetic growth parameters (mu(ma x), K-s, the yield constant) were determined. A mechanism of OP degrad ation via the formation of 4,5-dihydroxyphthalate and protocatechuate is suggested.