Effect of organic and inorganic nitrogenous compounds on RDX degradation and cytochrome P-450 expression in Rhodococcus strain YH1.

We hypothesized that biodegradation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)--a widely used explosive contaminating soil and groundwater--by Rhodococcus strain YH1 is controlled by the presence of external nitrogen sources. This strain is capable of degrading RDX while using it as sole nitrogen source under aerobic conditions. Both inorganic and organic nitrogen sources were found to have a profound impact on RDX-biodegradation activity.