Bioconversion of 1,3 dinitrobenzene by Micrococcus colpogenes strain MCM B410: quantitation and characterization of the intermediates.

Micrococcus colpogenes MCM B 410, indigenous to soil, collected from nitro aromatic contaminated site, could transform 1,3 dinitrobenzene (m-DNB) initially to m-nitroaniline, m-nitrophenol, m-aminophenol and resorcinol at 30 degrees C under shake culture condition. Carbon mineralization studies with unlabelled and radio labelled 1,3 (U14 C) dinitrobenzene subtrates indicated that the above metabolities appeared within 4 days. After 7 days incubation a significant traction of the source compound was degraded to C Q through aliphatic acids. Presence of nitro aryl reductase, aryl monooxygenase and resorcinol 1,3 di oxygenase was also noted in the sonicated cell mass.