This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by White, G. F. Articles by Nicklin, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by White, G. F. Articles by Nicklin, S. Agricola Articles by White, G. F. Articles by Nicklin, S.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl. Environ. Microbiol., Feb 1996, 637-642, Vol 62, No. 2
Copyright © 1996, American Society for Microbiology

Biodegradation of Glycerol Trinitrate and Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate by Agrobacterium radiobacter

GF White, JR Snape and S Nicklin
Biochemistry Unit, School of Molecular and Medical Biosciences, University of Wales, Cardiff, Cardiff CF1 3US, and Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Fort Halstead, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 7BP, United Kingdom

Bacteria capable of metabolizing highly explosive and vasodilatory glycerol trinitrate (GTN) were isolated under aerobic and nitrogen-limiting conditions from soil, river water, and activated sewage sludge. One of these strains (from sewage sludge) chosen for further study was identified as Agrobacterium radiobacter subgroup B. A combination of high-pressure liquid chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of the culture medium during the growth of A. radiobacter on basal salts-glycerol-GTN medium showed the sequential conversion of GTN to glycerol dinitrates and glycerol mononitrates. Isomeric glycerol 1,2-dinitrate and glycerol 1,3-dinitrate were produced simultaneously and concomitantly with the disappearance of GTN, with significant regioselectivity for the production of the 1,3-dinitrate. Dinitrates were further degraded to glycerol 1- and 2-mononitrates, but mononitrates were not biodegraded. Cells were also capable of metabolizing pentaerythritol tetranitrate, probably to its trinitrate and dinitrate analogs. Extracts of broth-grown cells contained an enzyme which in the presence of added NADH converted GTN stoichiometrically to nitrite and the mixture of glycerol dinitrates. The specific activity of this enzyme was increased 160-fold by growth on GTN as the sole source of nitrogen.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Williams, R. E., Rathbone, D. A., Scrutton, N. S., Bruce, N. C. (2004). Biotransformation of Explosives by the Old Yellow Enzyme Family of Flavoproteins. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 3566-3574 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Marshall, S. J., Krause, D., Blencowe, D. K., White, G. F. (2004). Characterization of Glycerol Trinitrate Reductase (NerA) and the Catalytic Role of Active-Site Residues. J. Bacteriol. 186: 1802-1810 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Trott, S., Nishino, S. F., Hawari, J., Spain, J. C. (2003). Biodegradation of the Nitramine Explosive CL-20. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69: 1871-1874 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Marshall, S. J., White, G. F. (2001). Complete Denitration of Nitroglycerin by Bacteria Isolated from a Washwater Soakaway. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67: 2622-2626 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Blehert, D. S., Fox, B. G., Chambliss, G. H. (1999). Cloning and Sequence Analysis of Two Pseudomonas Flavoprotein Xenobiotic Reductases. J. Bacteriol. 181: 6254-6263 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Accashian, J. V., Vinopal, R. T., Kim, B.-J., Smets, B. F. (1998). Aerobic Growth on Nitroglycerin as the Sole Carbon, Nitrogen, and Energy Source by a Mixed Bacterial Culture. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64: 3300-3304 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Meah, Y., Brown, B. J., Chakraborty, S., Massey, V. (2001). Old yellow enzyme: Reduction of nitrate esters, glycerin trinitrate, and propylene 1,2-dinitrate. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98: 8560-8565 [Abstract] [Full Text]