BENZYLSUCCINATE FORMATION AS A MEANS OF ANAEROBIC TOLUENE ACTIVATION BY SULFATE-REDUCING STRAIN PRTOL1

Permeabilized cells of toluene-mineralizing, sulfate-reducing strain P RTOL1 catalyzed the addition of toluene to fumarate to form benzylsucc inate under anaerobic conditions. Recent in vitro studies with two tol uene-mineralizing, denitrifying bacteria demonstrated the same fumarat e addition reaction and indicated that it may be the first step of ana erobic toluene degradation. This study with strain PRTOL1 shows that a naerobic toluene activation by fumarate addition occurs in bacteria as disparate as sulfate-reducing and denitrifying species (members of th e delta and beta subclasses of the Proteobacteria, respectively).