Uptake of benzoic acid and chloro-substituted benzoic acids by alcaligenes denitrificans BRI 3010 and BRI 6011

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology

OSTI ID:223592

Miguez, C B; Ingram, J M; MacLeod, R A ^[1]

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1. McGill Univ., Quebec (Canada); and others

The mechanism of uptake of benzoic and 2,4-dichlorobenzoic acid (2,4-DCBA) by Alcaligenes denitrificans BRI 3010 and BRI 6011 and Pseudomonas sp. strain B13, three organisms capable of degrading isomers of chlorinated benzoic acids, was investigated. In all three organisms, uptake of benzoic acid was inducible. For benzoic acid uptake into BRI 3010, monophasic saturation kinetics with apparent K{sub m} and V{sub max} values of 1.4 {mu}M and 3.2 nmol/min/mg of cell dry weight, respectively, were obtained. For BRI 6011, biphasic saturation kinetics were observed, suggesting presence of two uptake systems for benzoic acid with distinct K{sub m} (0.72 and 5.3 {mu}M) and V{sub max} (3.3 and 4.6 nmol/min/mg of cell dry weight) values. BRI 3010 and BRI 6011 accumulated benzoic acid against a concentration gradient by a factor of 8 and 10, respectively. A wide range of structural analogs, at 50-fold excess concentrations, inhibited benzoic acid uptake by BRI 3010 and BRI 6011, whereas with B13, only 3-chlorobenzoic acid was an effective inhibitor. For BRI 3010 and BRI 6011, the inhibition by the structural analogs was not of a competitive nature. Uptake of benzoic acid by BRI 3010 and BRI 6011 was inhibited by KCN, by the protonophore 3,5,3`, 4`-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS), and, for BRI 6011, by anaerobiosis unless nitrate was present, thus indicating that energy was required for the uptake process. Uptake of 2,4-DCBA by BRI 6011 was constitutive and saturation uptake kinetics were not observed. Uptake of 2,4-DCBA by BRI 6011 was inhibited by KCN, TCS, and anaerobiosis even if nitrate was present, but the compound was not accumulated intracellularly against a concentration gradient. Uptake of 2,4-DCBA by BRI 6011 appears to occur by passive diffusion into the cell down its concentration gradient, which is maintained by the intracellular metabolism of the compound. This process could play an important role in the degradation of xenobiotic compounds by microorganisms.

• OSTI ID: 223592
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 61; ISSN AEMIDF; ISSN 0099-2240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
BENZOIC ACID
BIODEGRADATION
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
PSEUDOMONAS
UPTAKE