Growth of Paenarthrobacter aurescens strain TC1 on atrazine and isopropylamine during osmotic stress

Paenarthrobacter aurescens strain TC1 can use the herbicide atrazine and its degradation product isopropylamine as nutrients. Because osmotic stress can change the morphology of arthrobacters and decrease their metabolism of some carbon compounds, the effects of increasing NaCl concentrations on strain TC1 and its ability to utilize atrazine and isopropylamine were determined. Strain TC1 was cultured in minimal media with different NaCl concentrations and varying combinations of d-glucose, ammonium sulfate, atrazine, or isopropylamine. Growth was measured quantitatively as an increase in turbidity. Physiological effects were assessed using Biolog (TM) GP test plates and BD BBL Crystal GP or bioM,rieux API 20E test systems. The effects of osmoprotective compounds were determined in liquid media and on agar plates. Strain TC1 formed multicellular myceloids and its growth rate slowed as the salt concentration increased, but the culture yields were similar up to 0.6 mol l(-1) NaCl. The bacteria metabolized about half the carbon sources in Biolog (TM) GP test plates, but their use of some compounds and several hydrolytic activities decreased with high salt concentrations. However, strain TC1 grew well with atrazine and isopropylamine as the nitrogen source in media containing up to 0.6 mol l(-1) NaCl. Growth in 0.8 mol l(-1) NaCl was more limited but could be enhanced by glycine betaine, L-proline, and L-glutamate. P. aurescens strain TC1 can continue to use atrazine and isopropylamine as nutrients during osmotic stress and so may be particularly useful for remediation of contaminated soils with low water activity.