trans-Stilbene degradation by Arthrobacter sp. SL3 cells

trans-Stilbene degradation was examined by the reaction using resting cells of microorganisms isolated through the enrichment culture using trans-stilbene. The strain SL3, showing the highest trans-stilbene-degrading activity, was identified as Arthrobacter sp. One of the reaction products was identified to be cis,cis-muconic acid. Arthrobacter sp. SL3 cells also transformed benzaldehyde, benzoic acid and catechol into cis,cis-muconic acid, suggesting that one benzene ring of trans-stilbene was converted into cis,cis-muconic acid via benzaldehyde formed by its C_α=C_β bond cleavage.