The efficiency of salicylate utilization by Pseudomonas putida strains catabolizing naphthalene via different biochemical pathways

Parameters of growth and substrate consumption by plasmid-harbouring Pseudo monas putida strains catabolizing naphthalene via different biochemical pat hways under batch cultivation on salicylate were estimated. The values of a specific growth rate, mu, and the yield coefficient, Y, for natural isolat es with the functioning genes of the ortho-pathway and silent genes of meta cleavage of catechol oxidation were less than those for isogenous strains with the functioning genes of the meta-pathway. All strains under study wit h functioning genes of the meta-pathway were shown to possess the activitie s of the enzymes both of ortho- and meta pathway of catechol oxidation: cat echol-1,2-dioxygenase and catechol-2,3-dioxygenase. The comparison of the f unctioning of the genes of the ortho- and meta-pathways was carried out in an isogenous host background. An approach to estimate the efficiency of the biodegradation process using the kinetics of microbial growth and substrat e consumption under batch cultivation was proposed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd. All rights reserved.