Nitrosubstituted Aromatic Compounds as Nitrogen Source for Bacteria

Bacteria which utilized nitroaromatic compounds (0.5 mM) as sole source of nitrogen were isolated from soil. With 2,6-dinitrophenol and succinate as carbon source, a Pseudomonas strain was isolated which liberated and assimilated nitrite. Approximately 2 mol of NO₂⁻ per mol of 2,6-dinitrophenol was released by resting cells. The xenobiotic compound was totally degraded, although specific growth yields were low even with succinate as a carbon source.