Degradation of phenanthrene via meta-cleavage of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid by Ochrobactrum sp strain PWTJD

The present study describes the assimilation of phenanthrene by an aerobic bacterium, Ochrobactrum sp. strain PWTJD, isolated from municipal waste-contaminated soil sample utilizing phenanthrene as a sole source of carbon and energy. The isolate was identified as Ochrobactrum sp. based on the morphological, nutritional and biochemical characteristics as well as 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. A combination of chromatographic analyses, oxygen uptake assay and enzymatic studies confirmed the degradation of phenanthrene by the strain PWTJD via 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid, salicylic acid and catechol. The strain PWTJD could also utilize 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid and salicylic acid, while the former was metabolized by a ferric-dependent meta-cleavage dioxygenase. In the lower pathway, salicylic acid was metabolized to catechol and was further degraded by catechol 2,3-dioxygenase to 2-hydroxymuconoaldehyde acid, ultimately leading to tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. This is the first report of the complete degradation of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecule by Gram-negative Ochrobactrum sp. describing the involvement of the meta-cleavage pathway of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid in phenanthrene assimilation.