[Physiology of aniline catabolism by achromobacter Ir2]

A bacterium was isolated from soil which utilizes aniline as sole source of carbon and nitrogen. It was identified as Achromobacter sp. The cells grow at concentrations in the range of 0.5 to 1.25 mg aniline/ml with a growth rate of 0.3 h-1. Substrate inhibition was observed at concentrations higher than 1.5 mg/ml, 3.0 mg/ml completely inhibit the growth. The yield coefficient was 0.63. Aniline was degraded with an activity of 200 microng/mg cell dry weight/hour. Aniline was assimilated and completely degraded. The remaining nitrogen was quantitatively detected as ammonia. The enzyme system involved in aniline degradation was induced by aniline but not repressed by succinate and ammonia.