ISOLATION OF A BACTERIAL STRAIN WITH THE ABILITY TO UTILIZE THE SULFONATED AZO COMPOUND 4-CARBOXY-4'-SULFOAZOBENZENE AS THE SOLE SOURCE OF CARBON AND ENERGY

A bacterial strain (strain S5) which grows aerobically,vith the sulfon ated azo compound 4-carboxy-4'-sulfoazobenzene as the sole source of c arbon and energy was isolated. This strain was obtained by continuous adaptation of ''Hydrogenophaga palleronii'' S1, which has the ability to grow aerobically with 4-aminobenzene-sulfonate. Strain S5 probably cleaves 4-carboxy-4'-sulfoazobenzene reductively under aerobic conditi ons to il-aminobenzoate and 4-aminobenzene-sulfonate, which are minera lized by previously established degradation pathways.