Phthalic acid and pyridine dicarboxylic acids as catabolic analogs

Abstract

The prevalence of bacteria in the environment that catabolise synthetic phthalic acids (PAs) might be related to the natural occurrence of pyridine dicarboxylic acids (PDCAs). However, the bacterial metabolism of <it>o</it>-phthalic acid (phthalic acid) and its PDCA analogs was mostly exclusive. An exception was the oxidation of 2:3 and 3:4-PDCAs by a marine bacterium (Strain OP-1) when grown on phthalic acid. The metabolism of PDCAs by Strain OP-1 was induced by phthalic acid and, as for phthalate catabolism, the metabolism of 2:3-PDCA required Na+ ions.