Biotransformations of aromatic aldehydes by acetogenic bacteria

Vanillin was subject to O demethylation and supported growth of Clostridium formicoaceticum and Clostridium thermoaceticum. Vanillin was also stimulatory to the CO-dependent growth of Peptostreptococcus productus. The aldehyde substituent of vanillin was metabolized by routes which were dependent upon both the acetogen and a co-metabolizable substrate (e.g. carbon monoxide [CO]). C. formicoaceticum and C. thermoaceticum oxidized the aldehyde group of vanillin to the carboxyl level, while P. productus reduced the aldehyde group of vanillin to the alcohol level. In contrast, during CO-dependent growth, C. thermoaceticum reduced 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde to 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol while P. productus both reduced and oxidized 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde to 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and 4-hydroxybenzoate, respectively. These metabolic potentials indicate aromatic aldehydes may affect the flow of reductant during acetogenesis.