Bacterial metabolism of 3-chloroacrylic acid.

Two bacterial strains were isolated with 3-chloroacrylic acid (CAA) as sole source of carbon and energy. Strain CAA1, a Pseudomonas cepacia sp., was capable of growth with only the cis-isomer of CAA.

Bacterial degradation of styrene involving a novel flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent styrene monooxygenase.

By using styrene as the sole source of carbon and energy in concentrations of 10 to 500 microM, 14 strains of aerobic bacteria and two strains of fungi were isolated from various soil and water samples. In cell extracts of 11 of the bacterial isolates, a novel flavin adenine dinucleotide-requiring styrene monooxygenase activity that oxidized styrene to styrene oxide (phenyl oxirane) was detected. In one bacterial strain (S5), styrene metabolism was studied in more detail.

Metabolism of Styrene Oxide and 2-Phenylethanol in the Styrene-Degrading Xanthobacter Strain 124X.

Styrene oxide and 2-phenylethanol metabolism in the styrene-degrading Xanthobacter sp. strain 124X was shown to proceed via phenylacetaldehyde and phenylacetic acid. In cell extracts 2-phenylethanol was oxidized by a phenazine methosulfate-dependent enzyme, probably a pyrroloquinoline quinone enzyme.