Abstract
Assimilation of ethyleneglycol (EG) ethers by polyethyleneglycol-utilizing bacteria was examined. Ethyleneglycol ether-utilizing bacteria were also isolated from soil and activated sludge samples by enrichment-culture techniques. Three strains (4-5-3, EC 1-2-1 and MC 2-2-1) were selected and characterized as Pseudomonas sp. 4-5-3, Xanthobacter autotrophicus, and an unidentified gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod respectively. Their growth characteristics were examined: Pseudomonas sp. 4-5-3 assimilated EG (diethyleneglycol, DEG) monomethyl, monoethyl and monobutyl ethers, DEG, propanol and butanol. X. autotrophicus EC 1-2-1 grew well on EG monoethyl and monobutyl ethers, EG and primary alcohols (C1-C4), and slightly on EG monomethyl ether. The strain MC 2-2-1 grew on EG monomethyl ether, EG, primary alcohols (C1-C4), and 1,2-propyleneglycol (PG). The mixed culture of Pseudomonas sp. 4-5-3 and X. autotrophicus EC 1-2-1 showed better growth and improved degradation than respective single cultures towards EG monomethyl, monoethyl or monobutyl ethers. Intact cells of Pseudomonas sp. 4-5-3 degraded various kinds of monoalkyl ethers, which cannot be assimilated by the strain. Metabolic products were characterized from reaction supernatants of intact cells of Pseudomonas sp. 4-5-3 with EG or DEG monoethyl ethers: they were analyzed by thin-layer chromatography and GC-MS and found to be ethoxyacetic acid and ethoxyglycoxyacetic acid. Also, PG monoalkyl ethers (C1-C4), dipropyleneglycol monoethyl and monomethyl ethers and tripropyleneglycol monomethyl ether were assimilated by polypropyleneglycol-utilizing Corynebacterium sp. 7.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Browning E (1965) In: Toxicology and metabolism of industrial solvent. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 601–623
Flaw F (1994) EPa campaigns for safer chemicals. Science 265:1519
Harada T, Nagashima Y (1975) Utilization of alkylether compounds by soil bacteria J. Ferment Technol 53:218–222
Holt JG, et al (eds) (1984, 1989) Bergey's manual of systematic bacteriology, vol 1–4. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore
Kawai, F (1987) The biochemistry of degradation of polyethers. CRC Crit Rev Biotechnol 6:273–307
Kawai F, Hanada K, Tani Y, Ogata, K (1977) Bacterial degradation of water-insoluble polymer (polypropylene glycol). J Ferment Technol 55:89–96
Kawai F, Kimura T, Tani Y, Yamada H (1984) Involvement of a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-oxidizing enzyme in the bacterial metabolism of PEG. Agric Biol Chem 48:1349–1351
Kersters K, De Ley J (1962) The oxidation of glycols by acetic acid bacteria. Biochim Biophys Acta 71:311–331
Murooka Y, Harada T (1968) Formation of O-ethylhomoserine by bacteria. J Bacteriol 96:314–317
Nagano K, Nakayama E, Koyano M, Oobayashi H, Adachi H, Yamada T (1973) Testicular atrophy of mice induced by ethylene lycol mono alkyl ethers, Jpn J Ind Health 21:29–35
Pathy, FA (1963) In industrial hygiene and toxicology, vol II. Interscience, New York, pp 1537–1592
Thompson GA Jr, Lee P (1965) Studies of the α-glyceryl ether lipids occurring in molluscan tissues. Biochim Biophys Acta 98: 151–159
Von Stenger EG, Aeppli L, Muller D, Peheim E, Thomann P (1971) Zur Toxikologie des Athylenglykol-Monoathyläthers. Arzneimittal Forsch 21:880–885
Zweig G, Sherma J (eds) (1972) Handbook of chromatography, vol 2. CRC Cleveland, Ohio, p 145
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kawai, F. Bacterial degradation of glycol ethers. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 44, 532–538 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00169956
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00169956