Utilization of 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene (phloroglucinol) by a soil isolate, Rhodococcus species BPG-8

A Gram-positive bacterial strain was isolated from oil rich soil in Newfoundland and found to utilize various di- and trihydroxylated aromatic compounds as a source of carbon and energy. This bacterium exhibited rod/coccus dimorphism during its growth cycle. Chemical analysis of cell wall composition (amino acids, sugars, and fatty acids) was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry and high pressure liquid chromatography. Comparison of both acid production and growth substrates showed complete homology with Rhodococcus erythropolis. Growth of the isolate on phloroglucinol (1,3,5 trihydroxybenzene) occurred in the pH range 5-8; with a substrate and temperature optima of 8.0 mM and 25 degrees C. The oxidation of PG was examined using whole cells as well as crude cell extracts. PG oxidation was shown to be due to an inducible enzyme system. Tentatively the isolate was identified as Rhodococcus species BPG-8 which is able to utilize phloroglucinol as the sole source of carbon and energy.