PSEUDOMONAS ACIDOVORANS - A BACTERIUM CAPABLE OF MINERALIZING 2-CHLOROANILINE

Prolonged adaptation of Ca-alginate immobilized cells of Pseudomonas a cidovorans CA28 to a mixture of 3-chloroaniline (3-CA)(1)) and 2-CA an d subsequently to 2-CA as sole substrate led to the isolation of anoth er strain, termed CA50 with the additional capability of utilizing 2-C A as sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. Batch-degradation of 190 mg/l of 2-CA at pH 6.1 by this newly isolated strain was achieved within 3 days, at higher concentrations up to 0.6 g/l increasing lag- phases and degradation periods were observed. Except chloride and ammo nium no further metabolites were detectable in the medium. Mineralizat ion of 2-CA proceeds via the modified ortho-cleavage pathway as demons trated by the presence of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (C120) activity, wh ich is characterized by its substrate specificity and elution behaviou r on DEAE-cellulose.