[Microbial side chain splitting of phenylurea and carbonic acid anilides]

A Gram- negative rod-shaped bacterium 28/1 isolated by enrichment cultures is able to hydrolyze the amide bond of some phenylurea herbicides and acid anilide herbicides by an inducible amidase. 7.5% of 0.3 mumol.ml-1 linuron (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea) are hydrolyzed after 16 hours. 1,1-Dimethylphenylureas are not degraded. Acid anilides are hydrolyzed at a higher rate, 80% of 0.5 mumol.ml-1 N-(4-chlorophenyl)-propionamide and N-(4-nitrophenyl)-propionamide are transformed after 6 hours. The 1-methoxy-1-methyl phenylureas are effective inducers. Linuron-induced cells have a specific activity of 3-4 nmol per mg dry weight per min on the substrate N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-propionamide (Propanil). The rate of hydrolysis is influenced by substituents of the aniline ring and by the structure of the side chain of the acid anilides.