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Biodegradation of 1-nitropyrene

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Abstract

The metabolism of 14C-labeled 1-nitropyrene in microcosms containing nonsterile estuarine sediments, and in cultures of a Mycobacterium sp. previously isolated from oil-contaminated sediments was investigated. Although mineralization of 1-nitropyrene by pure cultures of the Mycobacterium sp. totaled only 12.3% after 10 days of incubation, over 80% of the ethyl acetate extractable 14C-labeled compounds consisted of 1-nitropyrene metabolites. High pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of 1-nitropyrene degradation products indicated that two major metabolites were formed. They were identified as 1-nitropyrene cis-9,10-and 4,5-dihydrodiols, based on their UV-visible, mass and NMR spectra. Time course studies in microcosms showed that 1-nitropyrene was degraded slowly under aerobic and anaerobic conditions in estuarine sediments. Less than 1% had been converted to 14CO2 after 8 weeks of aerobic incubation. The addition of 1-nitropyrene to anaerobic sediments resulted in no 14CO2 evolution; however, the nitro group of 1-nitropyrene was reduced to form 1-aminopyrene. Although the mineralization of 1-nitropyrene in sediments was slow, the Mycobacterium sp. metabolized 1-nitropyrene in pure culture. This bacterium appears promising for the bioremediation of this ubiquitous pollutant in contaminated waste.

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Abbreviations

DEP:

Direct exposure probe

HPLC:

high pressure liquid chromatography

GC/MS:

gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Nitro-PAHS:

nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

TLC:

thin-layer chromatography

UV:

ultraviolet

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Author notes

  1. Michael A. Heitkamp

    Present address: Monsanto Company, 63167, St. Louis, MO, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Toxicological Research, Food and Drug Administration, 72079, Jefferson, AR, USA

    Michael A. Heitkamp, James P. Freeman, Dwight W. Miller & Carl E. Cerniglia

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  1. Michael A. Heitkamp
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  2. James P. Freeman
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  3. Dwight W. Miller
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  4. Carl E. Cerniglia
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Heitkamp, M.A., Freeman, J.P., Miller, D.W. et al. Biodegradation of 1-nitropyrene. Arch. Microbiol. 156, 223–230 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00249119

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