Influence of easily degradable naturally occurring carbon substrates on biodegradation of monosubstituted phenols by aquatic bacteria
The influence of readily degradable, naturally occurring carbon substrates on the biodegradation of several monosubstituted phenols (m-cresol, m-aminophenol, p-chlorophenol) was examined. The natural substrate classes used were amino acids, carbohydrates, and fatty acids. Samples of the microbial community from Lake Michie, a mesotrophic reservoir, were adapted to different levels of representatives from each natural substrate class in chemostats. After an extended adaptation period, the ability of the microbial community to degrade the monosubstituted phenols was determined by using a radiolabeled substrate uptake and mineralization method. Several microbiological characteristics of the communities were also measured. Adaptation to increasing concentrations of amino acids, carbohydrates, or fatty acids enhanced the ability of the microbial community to degrade all three phenols. The stimulation was largest for m-cresol and m-aminophenol. The mechanism responsible for the enhancement of monosubstituted phenol metabolism was not clearly identified, but the observation that adaptation to amino acids also increased the biodegradation of glucose and, to a lesser extend, naphthalene suggests a general stimulation of microbial metabolism.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- OSTI ID:
- 5706683
- Journal Information:
- Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 49:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Effect of adaptation to phenol on biodegradation of monosubstituted phenols by aquatic microbial communities
Adaptation to and biodegradation of xenobiotic compounds by microbial communities from a pristine aquifer
Related Subjects
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
GLUCOSE
BIODEGRADATION
NAPHTHALENE
PHENOLS
AMINO ACIDS
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
GROWTH
METABOLISM
SUBSTRATES
ALDEHYDES
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
HEXOSES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
MONOSACCHARIDES
NONMETALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SACCHARIDES
560302* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Microorganisms- (-1987)