BIODEGRADATION PATHWAY OF 2-CHLORODIBENZO-P-DIOXIN AND 2-CHLORODIBENZOFURAN IN THE BIPHENYL-UTILIZING STRAIN JB1

The biphenyl-utilising Burkholderia (previous Alcaligenes) strain JB1 is also able to degrade a number of chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans. In this study, 4-chlorocatechol and a chlorotrihydroxyd iphenyl ether were identified as metabolites of 2-chlorodibenzo-p-diox in. 5-Chlorosalicylic acid and a chlorotrihydroxybiphenyl were metabol ites of 2-chlorodibenzofuran. These results show that degradation of t hese compounds follows pathways in which the initial reaction is angul ar dioxygenation, followed by cleavage of an ether bridge. This pathwa y is similar to that used by dibenzofuran-degrading strains such as Sp hingomonas sp. strain RW1. (C)1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.