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 Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cook, A M Articles by Alexander, M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cook, A M Articles by Alexander, M

Phosphonate utilization by bacteria.

ABSTRACT

Bacteria able to use at least one of 13 ionic alkylphosphonates of O-alkyl or O,O-dialkyl alkylphosphonates as phosphorus sources were isolated from sewage and soil. Four of these isolates used 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid (AEP) as a sole carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus source. None of the other phosphonates served as a carbon source for the organisms. One isolate, identified as Pseudomonas putida, grew with AEP as its sole carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus source and released nearly all of the organic phosphorus as orthophosphate and 72% of the AEP nitrogen as ammonium. This is the first demonstration of utilization of a phosphonoalkyl moiety as a sole carbon source. Cell-free extracts of P. putida contained an inducible enzyme system that required pyruvate and pyridoxal phosphate to release orthophosphate from AEP; acetaldehyde was tentatively identified as a second product. Phosphite inhibited the enzyme system.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Ternan, N. G., McGrath, J. W., Quinn, J. P. (1998). Phosphoenolpyruvate Phosphomutase Activity in an L-Phosphonoalanine-Mineralizing Strain of Burkholderia cepacia. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64: 2291-2294 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• McGrath, J. W., Hammerschmidt, F., Quinn, J. P. (1998). Biodegradation of Phosphonomycin by Rhizobium huakuii PMY1. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64: 356-358 [Abstract] [Full Text]