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Isolation of Biphenyl and Polychlorinated Biphenyl-Degrading Bacteria and Their Degradation Pathway

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Abstract

Four strains of biphenyl-degrading bacteria were isolated from a sewage and identified from the Rhodococcus genus (SK-1, SK-3, and SK-4) and Aquamicrobium genus (SK-2) by 16S rRNA sequence. Among these strains, strain SK-2 was most suitable for biphenyl degradation. When 0.65, 1.3, 2.6, or 3.9 mM of biphenyl was used, the biphenyl was completely degraded within 24 and 96 h of culture, respectively. However, in the case of 6.5 and 9.75 mM of biphenyl, the biphenyl degradation yields were about 80 % and 46.7 % after 120 h of culture, respectively. The isolated strains could degrade a broad spectrum of aromatic compounds including high-chlorinated polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in the presence of biphenyl. In addition, strain SK-2 could utilize PCB congeners containing one to six chlorine substituents such as 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl. The PCB utilization rate by the strain SK-2 was increased compared to that of other PCB congener-utilizing bacteria. The four isolates metabolized 4-chlorobiphenyl to 4-chlorobenzoic acid and 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-(4′-chlorophenyl)-hexa-2,4-dienoic acid. These results suggest the isolated strains might be good candidates for the bioremediation of PCB-contaminated soil, especially high-saline soils.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a Research for Promoting Technological Seeds Grant (A) No. 01–044, from the Japanese Science and Technology agency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Applied Sciences, College of Environmental Technology, Graduate School of Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology, 27-1 Mizumoto, Muroran, 050-8585, Hokkaido, Japan

    Young-Cheol Chang, Kazunori Takada, Ken Sawada & Shintaro Kikuchi

  2. Biotechnology Lab, BK Company R&D Center, Jeonbuk, 579-879, Republic of Korea

    DuBok Choi

  3. Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 361-763, Republic of Korea

    DuBok Choi

  4. Department of Research, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medical and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu, 400-8511, Japan

    Tadashi Toyama

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  1. Young-Cheol Chang
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  2. Kazunori Takada
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  3. DuBok Choi
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  4. Tadashi Toyama
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Correspondence to Young-Cheol Chang or DuBok Choi.

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Chang, YC., Takada, K., Choi, D. et al. Isolation of Biphenyl and Polychlorinated Biphenyl-Degrading Bacteria and Their Degradation Pathway. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 170, 381–398 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-013-0191-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-013-0191-5

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