Degradation of 4-aminobenzenesulfonate by a two-species bacterial coculture. Physiological interactions between Hydrogenophaga palleronii S1 and Agrobacterium radiobacter S2.

The mutualistic interactions in a 4-aminobenzenesulfonate (sulfanilate) degrading mixed bacterial culture were studied. This coculture consisted of Hydrogenophaga palleronii strain S1 and Agrobacterium radiobacter strain S2. In this coculture only strain S1 desaminated sulfanilate to catechol-4-sulfonate, which did not accumulate in the medium but served as growth substrate for strain S2.