Degradation of phenolic compounds by the yeast <i>Candida tropicalis</i> HP 15 I. Physiology of growth and substrate utilization

Abstract

The yeast Candida tropicalis HP 15 was able to utilize phenol up to concentrations of 2.5 g/l as a sole carbon and energy source. Phenol was metabolized via the beta-ketoadipate pathway by an inducible enzyme system. Besides phenol, resorcinol, quinol, hydroxyquinol, catechol, and to a lesser extend 4-chlorocatechol, protocatechuate, p-cresol, m-chlorophenol, and p-chlorophenol were metabolized by the yeast. A total of 30 aromatic compounds were tested as substrates.