Bioconversion of Terephthalate by Resting Cells of Alkaliphilic Dietzia sp. Strain GS-1.

Abstract

Disodium terephthalate (DT) was degraded by the resting cells of alkaliphilic Dietzia sp. strain GS-1. The degradation occurred at pH 7.0-10.0. The optimal pH for the degradation was around 8.0. Oxygen uptake experiments with the resting cells showed that oxygen was utilized for degrading DT by strain GS-1. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis revealed three degradation products in the resting cells reaction at pH 10. The products absorbed light at around 265 nm and were likely aromatic compound having hydroxyl and/or carboxyl group. The resting cells reaction was strongly inhibited by a,a'-dipyridyl, suggesting DT-degrading enzyme is likely metalloenzyme. The cell-free extracts degraded DT at the velocity of 0.885 μM min - 1 mg-protein - 1 .