Metabolism of a nonylphenol isomer by Sphingomonas sp. strain TTNP3

Abstract

For elucidation of the metabolism of the endocrine disruptor nonylphenol by Sphingomonas sp. strain TTNP3, the degradation of an isomer of nonylphenol, 4(2′,6′-dimethyl-2′-heptyl)-phenol, has been studied. As in the case of 4(3′,5′-dimethyl-3′-heptyl)-phenol, the metabolism of this nonylphenol isomer leads to the formation of the NIH-shifted product 2(2′,6′-dimethyl-2′-heptyl)-1,4-benzenediol (NIH: National Institute of Health), but also to the alkoxy derivative 4(2′,6′-dimethylheptan-2′-yloxy)phenol as additional metabolite. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the formation of alkoxyphenol as a degradation product of nonylphenol. Additionally, these results provide for the first time evidence for slight differences in the biodegradation of the isomers of nonylphenol.