Initial reactions in the biodegradation of 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene by a newly isolated bacterium, strain LW1

Several possibilities were investigated to clarify the initial steps of the degradative pathway in bacterial strain LW1 of the family Comamonadaceae, which uses 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene as a a sole source of carbon, nitrogen and energy. Results indicated that the initial attack on the nitro group was reductive, given the accumulation of ammonia but not of nitrite in conversion experiments performed with resting cells grown with 1C4NB and the observed 1C4NB reductase activity in LW1 cell extracts. Partial reduction of the nitro group was suggested by the complete conversion of 1C4NB to 2-amino-5-chlorophenol in the absence of oxygen.