Novel Pathway for Utilization of Cyclopropanecarboxylate by Rhodococcus rhodochrous

A new strain isolated from soil utilizes cyclopropanecarboxylate as the sole source of carbon and energy and was identified as Rhodococcus rhodochrous (H. Nishihara, Y. Ochi, H. Nakano, M. Ando, and T. Toraya, J. Ferment. Bioeng. 80:400-402, 1995). A novel pathway for the utilization of cyclopropanecarboxylate, a highly strained compound, by this bacterium was investigated. Cyclopropanecarboxylate-dependent reduction of NAD⁺ in cell extracts of cyclopropanecarboxylate-grown cells was observed. When intermediates accumulated in vitro in the absence of NAD⁺ were trapped as hydroxamic acids by reaction with hydroxylamine, cyclopropanecarboxohydroxamic acid and 3-hydroxybutyrohydroxamic acid were formed. Cyclopropanecarboxyl-coenzyme A (CoA), 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, and crotonyl-CoA were oxidized with NAD⁺ in cell extracts, whereas methacrylyl-CoA and 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA were not. When both CoA and ATP were added, organic acids corresponding to the former three CoA thioesters were also oxidized in vitro by NAD⁺, while methacrylate, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate, and 2-hydroxybutyrate were not. Therefore, it was concluded that cyclopropanecarboxylate undergoes oxidative degradation through cyclopropanecarboxyl-CoA and 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. The enzymes catalyzing formation and ring opening of cyclopropanecarboxyl-CoA were shown to be inducible, while other enzymes involved in the degradation were constitutive.     

Biodegradation of plasticizers by Rhodococcus rhodochrous

Rhodococcus rhodochrous was grown in the presence of oneof three plasticizers: bis 2-ethylhexyl adipate (BEHA), dioctyl phthalate (DOP) ordioctyl terephthalate (DOTP). None of the plasticizers were degraded unless anothercarbon source, such as hexadecane, was also present. When R. rhodochrous was grownwith hexadecane as a co-substrate, BEHA was completely degraded and the DOP was degraded slightly. About half of the DOTP was degraded, if hexadecane were present.In all of these growth studies, the toxicity of the media, which was assessed usingthe Microtox assay, increased as the organism degraded the plasticizer. In each case, therewas an accumulation of one or two intermediates in the growth medium as the toxicityincreased. One of these was identified as 2-ethylhexanoic acid and it was observed forall three plasticizers. Its concentration increased until degradation of the plasticizershad stopped and it was always present at the end of the fermentation. The other intermediatewas identified as 2-ethylhexanol and this was only observed forgrowth in the presence of BEHA. The alcohol was observed early in the growth studies with BEHA and haddisappeared by the end of the experiment. Both the 2-ethylhexanol and 2-ethylhexanoicacid were shown to be toxic and their presence explained the increase of toxicity asthe fermentations proceeded. The appearance of these intermediates was consistent with similar degradation mechanisms for all three plasticizers involving hydrolysisof the ester bonds followed by oxidation of the released alcohol.     

Degradation of o-toluidine by Rhodococcus rhodochrous

Abstract A Gram-positive bacterium with the ability to utilize o -toluidine as sole source of carbon and nitrogen was isolated from soil. The organism was identified as Rhodococcus rhodochrous Sb 4. 3-Methylcatechol and the meta-fission product of 3-methylcatechol were identified as metabolites. A pathway for the degradation of o -toluidine is proposed.     

Metabolism of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole by Rhodococcus rhodochrous

2-Mercaptobenzothiazole, which is mainly used in the rubber industry as a vulcanization accelerator, is very toxic and is considered to be recalcitrant. We show here for the first time that it can be biotransformed and partially mineralized by a pure-culture bacterial strain of Rhodococcus rhodochrous. Three metabolites, among four detected, were identified.     

Metabolism of 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole by Rhodococcus rhodochrous

2-Mercaptobenzothiazole, which is mainly used in the rubber industry as a vulcanization accelerator, is very toxic and is considered to be recalcitrant. We show here for the first time that it can be biotransformed and partially mineralized by a pure-culture bacterial strain of Rhodococcus rhodochrous. Three metabolites, among four detected, were identified.     

Metabolism of acetylene and acetaldehyde by Rhodococcus rhodochrous

We studied the ability of a soil bacterium, identified as Rhodococcus rhodochrous, to grow on acetylene and to accumulate acetaldehyde. Its maximum growth rate on acetylene was obtained at about 30 degrees C (mu = 0.11 h-1) and was independent of the concentration of this gas in air from 0.14 to 16% (v/v). During growth, acetylene was quantitatively transformed to acetaldehyde, ethanol, acetate, CO2, and biomass in proportions which varied with culture age and temperature. Growth was completely inhibited by acetaldehyde at a concentration of 10 mM. The inhibitory effect was relieved by addition of acetate. Growth on ethanol up to 140 mM did not result in acetaldehyde accumulation. Acetylene consumption was constitutive with apparent Km and Vmax equal to 250 microM and 800 nmol.min-1.(mg protein)-1, respectively. In resting cell suspensions, acetylene consumption rates decreased more rapidly under air than under nitrogen. The inhibitory effect of acetaldehyde was enhanced in the presence of oxygen. Acetaldehyde accumulation in aerobic resting cell conditions did not exceed 10 mM (440 mg/L), but under anaerobic conditions it attained more than 70 mM (3.08 g/L).     

Fluorene cometabolism by Rhodococcus rhodochrous and Pseudomonas fluorescens

The transformation of fluorene by Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain 172 grown on sucrose and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 26K grown on glycerol was studied as a function of the substrate concentration and the growth phase. Under certain cultivation conditions, fluorene was completely consumed from the medium. The specific transformation rate of fluorene was considerably higher when it was transformed in the presence of the cosubstrates than when it served as the sole carbon source. An approach to the evaluation of the specific transformation rate of fluorene during batch cultivations is proposed.     

Biological production of optically active muconolactones by Rhodococcus rhodochrous

Optically active (-)-3-methylmuconolactone was biologically produced using a mutant strain of Rhodococcus rhodochrous N75 that is capable of metabolizing 4-methylcatechol via a modified ortho-cleavage pathway. The mutant strain (CJ30) was prepared by mutagenesis using N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and found to be blocked in the degradation of 3-methyl-muconolactone. Cells of the mutant CJ30, which had been previously grown on yeast extract and induced with p-toluate, transformed p-toluate (11.5 mM) to optically active (-)-3-methylmuconolactone with a yield of 53%. The structure of 3-methylmuconolactone was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Cell-free extracts of R. rhodochrous N75 also transformed a range of 4-alkylcatechols, such as 4-ethylcatechol, 4-iso-propylcatechol, and 4-tert-butylcatechol, to the corresponding 4-alkyl-substituted muconolactones.     

Fluorene Cometabolism by Rhodococcus rhodochrous and Pseudomonas fluorescens Cultures

The transformation of fluorene by Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain 172 grown on sucrose and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 26K grown on glycerol was studied as a function of the substrate concentration and the growth phase. Under certain cultivation conditions, fluorene was completely consumed from the medium. The specific transformation rate of fluorene was considerably higher when it was transformed in the presence of the cosubstrates than when it served as the sole carbon source. An approach to the evaluation of the specific transformation rate of fluorene during batch cultivations is proposed.     

Oxidative biotransformation of thioanisole by Rhodococcus rhodochrous IEGM 66 cells

Comparative study of sulfoxidation activity of free and immobilized Rhodococcus rhodochrous IEGM 66 cells was performed. Free Rhodococcus cells (in the presence of 0.1 vol % n-hexadecane) displayed maximal oxidative activity towards thioanisole (0.5 g/l), a prochiral organic sulfide, added after 48-h cultivation of bacterial cells. Higher sulfide concentrations inhibited sulfoxidation activity of Rhodococcus. Use of immobilized cells allowed the 2-day preparatory stage to be omitted and a complete thioanisole bioconversion to be achieved in 24 h in the case that biocatalyst and 0.5 g/l thioanisole were added simultaneously. The biocatalyst immobilized on gel provides for complete thioanisole transformation into (S)-thioanisole sulfoxide (optical purity of 82.1%) at high (1.0-1.5 g/l) concentrations of sulfide substrate.     

Biodesulfurization of water-soluble coal-derived material by Rhodococcus rhodochrous IGTS8

Rhodococcus rhodochrous IGTS8 was previously isolated because of its ability to use coal as its sole source of sulfur for growth. Subsequent growth studies have revealed that IGTS8 is capable of using a variety of organosulfur compounds as sources of sulfur but not carbon. In this article, the ability of IGTS8 to selectively remove organic sulfur from water-soluble coal-derived material is investigated. The microbial removal of organic sulfur from coal requires microorganisms capable of cleaving carbon-sulfur bonds and the accessibility of these bonds to microorganisms. The use of water-soluble coal-derived material effectively overcomes the problem of accessibility and allows the ability of microorganisms to cleave carbon-sulfur bonds present in coal-derived material to be assessed directly. Three coals, two coal solubilization procedures, and two methods of biodesulfurization were examined. The results of these experiments reveal that the microbial removal of significant amounts of organic sulfur from water-soluble coal-derived material with treatment times as brief as 24 h is possible. Moreover, the carbon content and calorific value of biotreated products are largely unaffected. Biotreatment does result, however, in an increased hydrogen and nitrogen content and a decreased oxygen content of the coal-derived material. The aqueous supernatant obtained from biodesulfurization experiments does not contain sulfate, sulfite, or other forms of soluble sulfur at increased concentrations in comparison with control samples. Sulfur removed from water-soluble coal-derived material appears to be incorporated into biomass. (c) 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Optimum culture conditions for the production of benzonitrilase by Rhodococcus rhodochrous J1

We sought the optimum conditions for the production of benzonitrilase by Rhodococcus rhodochrous J1. The use of isovaleronitrile or isobutyronitrile as an inducer greatly enhanced benzonitrilase formation. When Rhodococcus rhodochrous J1 was cultivated at 28°C for 96 h in a medium consisting of 0.1 ml of isovaleronitrile, 0.5 g of polypeptone, 0.3 g of malt extract, 0.3 g of yeast extract and 1 g of glycerol per 100 ml of tap water (pH 7.2), and isovaleronitrile was fed twice at the concentrations of 0.1% (v/v) and 0.2% (v/v) at 55 h and 77 h, respectively, during the course of cultivation, the enzyme activity in the culture broth reached approximately 3,100-times higher than the initially obtained level.     

Metabolism of lignin-related compounds by Rhodococcus rhodochrous: bioconversion of anisoin

Summary The ability of the nocardioform actinomycete Rhodococcus rhodochrous to metabolize selected lignin model compounds was studied. The compounds studied included cinnamic and ferulic acids and dimers possessing intermonomeric linkages that are characteristic of the lignin molecule. R. rhodochrous reduced the carbonyl group of anisoin, a 1,2-diarylethane (-1) structure to (1R,2R)-1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethane-1,2-diol with an enantiomeric excess of .98%. Cleavage of 1,2-diarylethane and -O-4 structures by this strain could not be detected under our metabolic conditions. Offprint requests to: V. Andreoni     

Improvement of the process of fluorene degradation by Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain 172

The ability of Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain 172 to consume fluorene as the sole source of carbon and energy in a liquid medium was successfully increased by an addition of polycapramide fiber to the medium and preliminary adaptation of cells on fluorene agar. A combination of these approaches allowed complete degradation of fluorene without an accumulation of intermediates.     

Evidence for diverse oxidations in the catabolism of toluene by Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain OFS

Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain OFS grew on toluene as a sole source of carbon and energy with a maximum growth rate of 0.011 h⁻¹. Initial reaction products were extracted, derivatized and identified by GC-MS. Oxygen consumption studies indicated that OFS grown on an aliphatic substrate required an induction period before oxidizing toluene. OFS grown on toluene transformed an array of aromatic ground water pollutants including styrene, ethylbenzene and chlorobenzene. Products of these transformations were identified. The sole product of chlorobenzene biotransformation was 4-chlorophenol. Products from toluene oxidation included 3- and 4-methylcatechol as well as benzyl alcohol, p-cresol and cis-toluene dihydrodiol. The identification of these and the products of other aromatic substrate conversions affirm that oxidation occurred on the functional group as well as directly on the aromatic nucleus. Received: 23 July 1999 / Received revision: 4 October 1999 / Accepted: 16 October 1999     

Improvement of the process of fluorene degradation by Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain 172

The ability of Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain 172 to consume fluorene as the sole source of carbon and energy in a liquid medium was successfully increased by an addition of polycapramide fiber to the medium and preliminary adaptation of cells on fluorene agar. A combination of these approaches allowed complete degradation of fluorene without an accumulation of intermediates.     

Draft genome sequence of Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain ATCC 17895

Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC 17895 possesses an array of mono- and dioxygenases, as well as hydratases, which makes it an interesting organism for biocatalysis. R. rhodochrous is a Gram-positive aerobic bacterium with a rod-like morphology. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 6,869,887 bp long genome contains 6,609 protein-coding genes and 53 RNA genes. Based on small subunit rRNA analysis, the strain is more likely to be a strain of Rhodococcus erythropolis rather than Rhodococcus rhodochrous.     

Dimethylformamide is a novel nitrilase inducer in Rhodococcus rhodochrous

Nitrilases are of commercial interest in the selective synthesis of carboxylic acids from nitriles. Nitrilase induction was achieved here in three bacterial strains through the incorporation of a previously unrecognised and inexpensive nitrilase inducer, dimethylformamide (DMF), during cultivation of two Rhodococcus rhodochrous strains (ATCC BAA-870 and PPPPB BD-1780), as well as a closely related organism (Pimelobacter simplex PPPPB BD-1781). Benzonitrile, a known nitrilase inducer, was ineffective in these strains. Biocatalytic product profiling, enzyme inhibition studies and protein sequencing were performed to distinguish the nitrilase activity from that of sequential nitrile hydratase-amidase activity. The expressed enzyme, a 40-kDa protein with high sequence similarity to nitrilase protein Uniprot Q-03217, hydrolyzed 3-cyanopyridine to produce nicotinic acid exclusively in strains BD-1780 and BD-1781. These strains were capable of synthesising both the vitamin nicotinic acid as well as β-amino acids, a compound class of pharmaceutical interest. The induced nitrilase demonstrated high enantioselectivity (> 99%) in the hydrolysis of 3-amino-3-phenylpropanenitrile to the corresponding carboxylic acid.