Branched Metabolic Pathway for Phenanthrene Degradation in a Pyrene-Degrading Bacterium

Abstract

Mycobacterium sp. strain KR2 utilizes phenanthrene and pyrene as the sole sources of carbon and energy. Its pathway for phenanthrene degradation is branched. Besides complete degradation following the Aeromonas-pathway phenanthrene is metabolized via cis-9,10-phenanthrene dihydrodiol to diphenic acid which accumulates during incubation. Both substances are not described as bacterial metabolites of phenanthrene as of yet.