Biotransformation of 4-sec-butylphenol by Gram-positive bacteria of the genera Mycobacterium and Nocardia including modifications on the alkyl chain and the hydroxyl group

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2013 Sep;97(18):8329-39. doi: 10.1007/s00253-013-5127-z. Epub 2013 Aug 3.

Abstract

The environmental pollutant 4-sec-butylphenol (4-sec-BP) which possesses estrogenic properties was transformed by the aerobic Gram-positive bacteria Mycobacterium neoaurum and Nocardia cyriacigeorgica into three main products (P1-P3) which were isolated and structurally characterized in detail. Two of them were products of a process resembling anaerobic metabolism of alkylphenols based on modifications of the alkyl side chain of 4-sec-BP. The first product (P1) was identified as 4-(2-hydroxy-1-methylpropyl)-phenol. The second product P2 was isolated as a mixture of at least four structures which could be identified as I 4-sec-butylidenecyclohexa-2,5-dienone; II 4-(1-methylenepropyl)-phenol; III 4-(1-methylpropenyl)-phenol; and IV 4-(1-methylallyl)-phenol. In contrast to P1 and P2, the third product (P3) resulted from a modification of the hydroxyl group of 4-sec-BP. This product was only formed by M. neoaurum and was identified as the glucoside conjugate 4-sec-butylphenol-α-D-glucopyranoside. Since in general, fungi synthesize sugar conjugates to detoxify hazardous pollutants, the formation of this conjugate is a peculiarity of M. neoaurum. Thus, altogether, six products were formed from 4-sec-BP and different transformation pathways are introduced. The hydroxylating and glucosylating capacity of the characterized bacteria open up applications in environmental protection.

MeSH terms

  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Biotransformation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Mycobacterium / genetics
  • Mycobacterium / isolation & purification
  • Mycobacterium / metabolism*
  • Nocardia / genetics
  • Nocardia / isolation & purification
  • Nocardia / metabolism*
  • Phenols / chemistry*
  • Phenols / metabolism*
  • Soil Microbiology

Substances

  • Phenols