Identical Ring Cleavage Products during Anaerobic Degradation of Naphthalene, 2-Methylnaphthalene, and Tetralin Indicate a New Metabolic Pathway

Anaerobic degradation of naphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene by strains of marine sulfate-reducing bacteria.

The anaerobic biodegradation of naphthalene, an aromatic hydrocarbon in tar and petroleum, has been repeatedly observed in environments but scarcely in pure cultures. To further explore the relationships and physiology of anaerobic naphthalene-degrading microorganisms, sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were enriched from a Mediterranean sediment with added naphthalene. Two strains (NaphS3, NaphS6...

Toxicological Profile for Naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, and 2-methylnaphthalene

Toxicological Profile for Naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, and 2-methylnaphthalene

Methylation is the initial reaction in anaerobic naphthalene degradation by a sulfate-reducing enrichment culture.

The sulfate-reducing culture N47 can utilize naphthalene or 2-methylnaphthalene as the sole carbon source and electron donor. Here we show that the initial reaction in the naphthalene degradation pathway is a methylation to 2-methylnaphthalene which then undergoes the subsequent oxidation to the central metabolite 2-naphthoic acid, ring reduction and cleavage. Specific metabolites occurring exc...

Anaerobic degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the most important contaminants of groundwater. The 2- and 3-ring PAHs are of particular concern because they are water soluble in the 1-200 mug/l range and are transported with the groundwater over significant distances. Anaerobic degradation of PAH has been demonstrated in several microcosm studies with nitrate, ferric iron, or sulfate as elec...