Six strains were isolated from Lake Akşehir (Konya-Turkey) and identified as Rhodopseudomonas palustris on the basis of physiological and morphological characteristics. The strains grew phototrophically on a variety of aromatic compounds (under illuminated anaerobic conditions), namely, benzoate, hippurate, benzyl alcohol, 2-amino benzoic acid, phloroglucinol, phenylacetic acid, catechol, pyridine and pyrazoline. | Tr. J. of Biology 23 (1999) 507–511 © TÜBİTAK Biodegradation of Homocyclic and Heterocyclic Aromatic Compounds by Rhodopseudomonas palustris Strains Gönül ÇETİNKAYA DÖNMEZ Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ankara University, Ankara-TURKEY Ayten ÖZTÜRK Department of Biology, Faculty of Science-Art, Niğde University, Niğde-TURKEY Received: Abstract:Six strains were isolated from Lake Akşehir (Konya-Turkey) and identified as Rhodopseudomonas palustris on the basis of physiological and morphological characteristics. The strains grew phototrophically on a variety of aromatic compounds (under illuminated anaerobic conditions), namely, benzoate, hippurate, benzyl alcohol, 2-amino benzoic acid, phloroglucinol, phenylacetic acid, catechol, pyridine and pyrazoline. Biodegradation of 2-amino benzoate, phloroglucinol, catechol, pyridine and pyrazolin by Rhodopseudomonas palustris strains have not been reported in the literature. Key Words: Rhodopseudomonas palustris, aromatic compounds, biodegradation. Homosiklik ve Heterosiklik Aromatik Bileşiklerin Rhodopseudomonas palustris Suşları Tarafından Parçalanması Özet: Akşehir Gölü’nden izolen edilen, fizyolojik ve morfolojik özelliklerine göre karakterize edilen altı suş Rhodopseudomonas palustris olarak tanımlanmıştır. Bu suşlar benzoat, hippurat, benzil alkol, 2amino benzoik asit, floroglusinol, fenil asetik asit, kateşol, piridin ve pirazolin içeren besiyerlerinde fototrofik olarak geliştirilmiştir. Bu konuda yapılan çalışmalarda, Rhodopseudomonas palustris suşlarının 2-amino benzoat, floroglusinol, kateşol, piridin ve pirazolin’i parçaladığı belirtilmemiştir. Anahtar Sözcükler: Rhodopseudomonas palustris, aromatik bileşikler, parçalanma. Introduction A diverse array of aromatic compounds exists in nature, primarily as substances released from dead plant material. In addition to biological sources of aromatic compounds, agricultural and industrial activities introduce a wide variety of xenobiotic .
