Abstract
The anaerobic bacterium Desulfobacterium cetonicum oxidized m-cresol completely with sulfate as electron acceptor. During growth, 3-hydroxybenzylsuccinate (identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy and by comparison of high-performance liquid chromatography retention time and UV spectrum with a chemically synthesized reference compound) accumulated in the medium. This finding indicates that the methyl group of m-cresol is activated by addition to fumarate as in the case of anaerobic toluene metabolism. In cell-free extracts of D. cetonicum, the formation of 3-hydroxybenzylsuccinate from m-cresol and fumarate was detected at an activity of 0.5 nmol min–1 (mg protein)–1. This reaction depended strictly on anoxic assay conditions. Treatment with air resulted in a complete loss of activity; however, some activity could be recovered after restoring anoxic conditions. The activity was slightly membrane-associated. 3-Hydroxybenzylsuccinate was degraded via CoA thioesterification and further oxidation to 3-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA as subsequent steps in the degradation pathway.
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Received: 20 May 1999 / Accepted: 19 July 1999
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Müller, J., Galushko, A., Kappler, A. et al. Anaerobic degradation of m-cresol by Desulfobacterium cetonicum is initiated by formation of 3-hydroxybenzylsuccinate. Arch Microbiol 172, 287–294 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002030050782
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002030050782