Metabolism of p-cresol by the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus

• Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Vol. 59; no. 4; pp. 1125 - 1130
• Main Authors: JONES, K. H, TRUDGILL, P. W, HOPPER, D. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01.04.1993
• Subjects: 540220 > Environment, Terrestrial > Chemicals Monitoring & Transport > (1990-); AROMATICS; ASPERGILLUS; Aspergillus fumigatus; biodegradacion; BIODEGRADATION; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS; Biology; Biology of microorganisms of confirmed or potential industrial interest; Biotechnology; Carbon; CARBON SOURCES; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; CHEMICAL WASTES; compose phenolique; compuestos fenolicos; CRESOLS; DECOMPOSITION; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; EUMYCOTA; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; FUNGI; HYDROXY COMPOUNDS; METABOLISM; metabolisme; metabolismo; Mission oriented research; Mycology; NONRADIOACTIVE WASTES; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; phenolic compounds; PHENOLS; Physiology and metabolism; PLANTS; POLLUTANTS; RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT; WASTES 560300 > Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology; Culture medium; Hydroxylation; Enzyme; Growth; Hydroxylase; Dehydrogenase; Metabolism; Fungi; Cresol; Substrate; Enzymatic activity; Medium effect; Microorganism culture; Succinic acid; Fungi Imperfecti; Aspergillus fumigatus; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0099-2240; 1098-5336
• DOI: 10.1128/AEM.59.4.1125-1130.1993

The fungus Aspergillus fumigatus ATCC 28282 was shown to grow on p-cresol as its sole source of carbon and energy. A pathway for metabolism of this compound was proposed. This has protocatechuate as the ring-fission substrate with cleavage and metabolism by an ortho-fission pathway. The protocatechuate was formed by two alternative routes, either by initial attack on the methyl group, which is oxidized to carboxyl, followed by ring-hydroxylation, or by ring-hydroxylation as the first step with subsequent oxidation of 4-methylcatechol to the acid. The pathway was elucidated from several pieces of evidence. A number of compounds, including 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, protocatechualdehyde, and 4-methylcatechol, appeared transiently in the medium during growth on p-cresol. These compounds were oxidized without lag by p-cresol-grown cells but not by succinate-grown cells. Enzyme activities for most of the proposed steps were demonstrated in cell extracts after growth on p-cresol, and the products of these activities were identified. None of the activities were found in succinate-grown cells.