The branched-chain dodecylbenzene sulfonate degradation pathway of Pseudomonas aeruginosa W51D involves a novel route for degradation of the surfactant lateral alkyl chain

Pseudomonas aeruginosa W51D is able to grow by using branched-chain dodecyl benzene sulfonates (B-DBS) or the terpenic alcohol citronellol as a sole so urce of carbon. A mutant derived from this strain (W51M1) is unable to degr ade citronellol but still grows on B-DBS, showing that the citronellol degr adation route is not the main pathway involved in the degradation of the su rfactant alkyl moiety. The structures of the main B-DBS isomers and of some intermediates were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometric ana lysis, and a possible catabolic route is proposed.